Bundee Aki is recalled to Ireland’s midfield after illness  © David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has rung the changes whilst retaining a strong core of experienced players for Saturday night’s Nations Championship clash with Fiji at the Aviva Stadium (8.10).

In total, Farrell has drafted in seven fresh faces, and made two positional switches from the team that beat Argentina 42-12 last week, while Ulster back-row James McNabney is set to make his Ireland debut off the bench.

Mack Hansen moves from the wing to full-back for what will be just his third Test start in the number 15 jersey, while Nick Timoney gets a chance to stake his claim to start at No 8 ahead of next week’s crunch showdown with South Africa.

Hansen is part of an exciting new-look Ireland backline that includes Robert Baloucoune, who has been passed fit, and Tommy O’Brien in the back-three, while last week’s hat-trick hero Hugo Keenan drops out of the team.

So too do starting centres Stuart McCloskey – who is amongst the replacements – and Robbie Henshaw, with Farrell recalling Bundee Aki following his illness and Jamie Osborne, who starts at outside centre.

Sam Prendergast keeps his place at out-half ahead of Ciarán Frawley to partner his Leinster team-mate Jamison Gibson-Park, who is promoted from the bench.

Having freshened up the backline, Farrell has largely stuck with the same pack, although Rónan Kelleher, James Ryan and Josh van der Flier return to the starting XV.

Kelleher replaces the injured Dan Sheehan, who has been stood down for 12 days due to concussion. Ireland are optimistic that their first-choice hooker and captain will be available to face the Springboks next week.

Farrell has resisted the temptation to blood some of his less experienced props from the start, as Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong continue in the front-row alongside Kelleher.

Tadhg Beirne with his daughter Penelope and wife Harriet after Ireland’s win over Argentina  © David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Ryan partners Tadhg Beirne – who will captain Ireland for only the second time in Sheehan and Caelan Doris’ absence – in the second-row.

Ryan Baird continues on the blindside, with Van der Flier overcoming an ankle injury to return at openside, which means the versatile Timoney gets the nod at No 8, with Doris, Jack Conan, Sean Jansen and Bryn Ward all ruled out through injury.

There are further changes on the bench, where Ulster hooker Tom Stewart is drafted in along with back-up props Tom O’Toole and Sam Illo. Connacht second-row Darragh Murray will be hoping to impress when called upon, having not featured last summer despite having travelled to Australia and New Zealand.

McNabney edges out Connacht captain Cian Prendergast, who has been overlooked again, as the 23-year-old Ulster back-row is primed to win his first cap.

Fresh after impressing in the win over Argentina, Craig Casey has to make do with a place on the bench, as do backs Frawley and McCloskey.

Ireland team to play Fiji

M Hansen; R Baloucoune, J Osborne, B Aki, T O’Brien; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Furlong; J Ryan, T Beirne (capt); R Baird, J van der Flier, N Timoney. Reps: T Stewart, T O’Toole, S Illo, D Murray, J McNabney, C Casey, C Frawley, S McCloskey.