John Hayes is now tasked with minding debutant Cian Healy after stamping on him © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: O'Driscoll remains hungry for success

News: Healy handed Ireland debut

News: Pocock ousts Smith in only Wallabies change

Matches: Ireland 20 - 20 Australia

Tournaments/Tours: Australia tour

Teams: Australia | Ireland

Ireland coach Declan Kidney expects returning front rowers John Hayes and Jerry Flannery to be ready for Australia despite their recent inactivity, while Hayes has been asked to mentor the player he was banned for stamping on.

Long-serving prop Hayes has spent the past five weeks completing a suspension and has not played for Munster since the start of October. His provincial colleague Flannery, will face the Wallabies at Croke Park on Sunday underdone after recovering from a calf problem and other injuries.

"You can either moan about it or get on with it. If you spend the present thinking about the past the future passes you by," Kidney said. "If you wait for the ideal in this job it will never happen. John and Jerry are looking forward to the game and that's the important thing."

In an ironic twist, Hayes will be asked to put a reassuring arm around the player he left bloodied in Munster's 30-0 drubbing by Leinster on October 3. Hayes was shown a red card for his assault on 22-year-old Cian Healy, who will be making his Test debut after regular loosehead Marcus Horan was ruled out with an unspecified condition until January.

"One of the great ironies of sporting life is that John took a sabbatical for a few weeks and now he's in to mind Cian!" Kidney said. "Cian has looked good all season. I wish Marcus well but the two of them would have been battling for the position.

"Marcus' injury made the decision easier but Cian had been playing well and merits selection in his own right."

Ulster's Paddy Wallace is preferred ahead of Gordon D'Arcy at inside centre while there are two uncapped players on the bench in Connacht hooker Sean Cronin and Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton.

"You don't like leaving a fella like Gordon out," said Kidney. "It's a big call to leave a player of his ability out of the 22. I never like doing it, but this was the call that stands out for me in this team selection."

In total there are only two changes to the side that clinched the Grand Slam with a 17-15 victory over Wales in March with Healy replacing Horan and Wallace coming in for D'Arcy.

Captain Brian O'Driscoll will make his 100th Test appearance on Sunday having accumulated 93 caps for Ireland and six for the Lions.