Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has handed Leinster duo Hugo Keenan and Will Connors their international debuts in Saturday's Six Nations match with Italy in Dublin.

Ed Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park could also make their debuts from the bench.

Johnny Sexton has recovered from injury to captain the side at fly-half.

Ulster's Rob Herring will start at hooker either side of Cian Healy and Andrew Porter, who replaces injured Lions prop Tadhg Furlong.

As a result of Iain Henderson's suspension, Ryan Baird's injury and the omission of Devin Toner, Munster's Tadhg Beirne will partner James Ryan in a powerful second row.

Connors has been given the nod to start ahead of Josh van der Flier, who misses out entirely, while Caelan Doris, who started against Scotland before getting injured in the fourth minute, and CJ Stander complete the forward pack.

Conor Murray and Sexton will form the standard half-back partnership while Bundee Aki has been given the nod to start at inside centre ahead of Robbie Henshaw, with Garry Ringrose completing the midfield.

Keenan, who came through Ireland's Sevens programme, offers an exciting outlet in the back three, while Munster's Andrew Conway starts on the right wing and Stockdale moves to full-back after the injury to Jordan Larmour and Rob Kearney's international retirement.

On the bench, Byrne is joined by Dave Heffernan - who will be hoping to add the cap he won against the USA in 2017 - Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane and Peter O'Mahony.

New Zealand-born scrum-half Gibson-Park is set to make his Ireland bow while Ross Byrne and Henshaw provide the remaining backline cover.

Farrell's maiden campaign as Ireland head coach resumes against Italy on Saturday after the Six Nations was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Ireland's final fixture being a trip to France on 31 October.

Ireland sit fourth in the table after three matches, with wins over Scotland and Wales followed by a disappointing defeat to England in February.

Ireland: Stockdale, Conway; Ringrose, Aki; Keenan; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Herring, Porter; Beirne, Ryan; Doris, Connors, Stander.

Replacements: Heffernan, E Byrne, Bealham, Dillane, O'Mahony, Gibson-Park, R Byrne, Henshaw.