Ireland have not been beaten at home in the Six Nations since Joe Schmidt became their coach in 2013 but they will have to defend that record against Wales on Saturday without four players who toured New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions last summer.
The centre Robbie Henshaw is a long-term absentee after injuring his shoulder in the last round against Italy and the flanker Sean O’Brien has yet to appear in this year’s tournament after having hip surgery.
At the start of the week Schmidt had hoped the second-row Iain Henderson and the prop Tadhg Furlong would recover from hamstring injuries sustained during the romp against Italy but they ran out of time.
Quick guide
Ireland team to face Wales
Backs
R Kearney (Leinster), K Earls, C Farrell (both Munster), B Aki (Connacht), J Stockdale (Ulster), J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), C Healy (Leinster),
R Best (Ulster, capt), A Porter, James Ryan, D Toner (all Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster), D Leavy (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster).
Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath (both Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), Q Roux (Connacht), J Conan (Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), J Carbery, F McFadden (both Leinster).