Standout fly-half Johnny Sexton will start his first match for Ireland since limping off against New Zealand last November in the Six Nations clash at home to France on Saturday.
The 31-year-old - whose last game was five weeks ago when he suffered a calf strain playing for Irish province Leinster against French club Castres -came in for Paddy Jackson in the team announced by Ireland coach Joe Schmidt at the squad's training base on Thursday.
Jackson, who because of Sexton's unavailability has started five of Ireland's last seven Tests, drops to the bench.
Sexton's return to the starting XV is one of three changes to the side that thrashed Italy 63-10 a fortnight ago.
Hooker Rory Best returns as captain after seeing his run of 51 successive Six Nations appearances ended by a stomach bug for the Italy game - whilst Schmidt has opted for prop Jack McGrath instead of veteran front-row Cian Healy.
The latter drops to the bench which also sees fit-again Iain Henderson -replacing Ultan Dillane - flanker Peter O'Mahony, who is recalled with Josh van der Flier injured, and wing Andrew Trimble coming in.
Trimble replaces his Ulster team-mate Craig Gilroy, who can count himself unfortunate after scoring a hat-trick of tries in the Italy match.
Sexton - whose last full 80 minute display came on October 1 - has shown before that lack of activity doesn't affect his performance in big matches.
In 2015 he returned from a three-month absence and slotted over five penalties in Ireland's 18-11 win against France in the Six Nations.
However, in the years since he has seemed increasingly fragile and in the corresponding match last year in Paris - the French edging the encounter 10-9 - was subject to some heavy hits early on which left Ireland angry at the lack of action by the referee.
Outside Sexton this weekend will be the youthful but burgeoning centre partnership of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose which is already being compared to the successful Irish midfield alliance of Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy.
Ireland and France go into Saturday's match at Dublin's Lansdowne Road having both won one and lost one in their two matches so far in the tournament, although the Irish are a point better off than the French thanks to accruing two bonus points to their opponents' one.
The French, though, beat Ireland's conquerors Scotland last time out with a 22-16 victory in Paris.
Ireland team to play France in a Six Nations international at Lansdowne Road on Sunday (3:50 AEDT kick-off).
TEAM
1 Jack McGrath2 Rory Best (c)
3 Tadhg Furlong
4 Donnacha Ryan
5 Devin Toner
6 CJ Stander
7 Sean O'Brien
8 Jamie Heaslip
9 Conor Murray
10 Johnny Sexton
11 Simon Zebo
12 Robbie Henshaw
13 Garry Ringrose
14 Keith Earls
15 Rob Kearney
Reserves:
16 Niall Scannell
17 Cian Healy
18 John Ryan
19 Iain Henderson
20 Peter O'Mahony
21 Kieran Marmion
22 Paddy Jackson
23 Andrew Trimble
France coach Guy Novès has made three changes to his side for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.
Rabah Slimani, Bernard Le Roux and Yoann Huget all start as Virimi Vakatawa, Loann Goujon and Unini Atonio drop out of the side that defeated Scotland 22-16 last time out.
Prop Slimani comes in at tight-head in place of Atonio, who drops to the bench, with flanker Le Roux and fullback Huget replacing injured pair Loann Goujon and Virimi Vakatawa.
Toulouse's Huget has not featured since the first November Test against Samoa.
"The logic was (to replace Vakatawa by) Yoann who is returning to form", after a serious knee injury during the opening game of the 2015 World Cup, Noves explained.
Vakatawa had been systemically selected since Noves took over as France coach but failed to fire against Scotland and was replaced early.
No fly-half has been named on the bench with scrum-half Baptiste Serin and fullback Scott Spedding ready to step in should Camille Lopez retire injured.
Racing 92's Le Roux returns after being hampered by injuries since the 2016 Six Nations, as Charles Ollivon drops to the bench, to support Louis Picamoles amd Kévin Gourdon.
Stade Francais prop Slimani comes in as Atonio struggled during the first two matches of the tournament with France losing their opener 19-16 at champions England."Rabah was convincing each time he came on, the scrum is one of Ireland's strong points. It was logical to allow him to start, he is a very serious and very fit boy," Noves added.
Uncapped centre Henry Chavancy and wing Djibril Camara are both on the bench.
Both Ireland and France won one and lost one of their opening two Six Nations games and a victory is vital to stay in the hunt to win this season's championship.
France beat Scotland 22-16 in Paris last time out while Ireland thrashed Italy 63-10 in Rome.
TEAM
France team to take on Ireland in a Six Nations international at Lansdowne Road on Sunday (3:50 AEDT kick-off).1 Scott Spedding
2 Yoann Huget
3 Remi Lamerat
4 Gael Fickou
5 Noa Nakaitaci
6 Camille Lopez
7 Baptiste Serin
8 Kevin Gourdon
9 Louis Picamoles
10 Bernard Le Roux
11 Yoann Maestri
12 Sebastien Vahaamahina
13 Rabah Slimani
14 Guilhem Guirado (c)
15 Cyril Baille
Reserves:
16 Christopher Tolofua
17 Uini Atonio
18 Eddy Ben Arous
19 Julien Le Devedec
20 Charles Ollivon
21 Maxime Machenaud
22 Henry Chavancy
23 Djibril Camara
