Ireland's David Humphreys has described his selection as his country's skipper as the biggest honour he has ever received.

Keith Wood had been expected to return to the side as captain for the first time this year on Saturday - but, having endured a lengthy absence with a calf injury, the Harlequins hooker succumbed to a back problem which ruled him out. With recent stand-in captain Mick Galwey dropped, the Irish management turned to Humphreys.

The Ulster fly half said: "I'm absolutely thrilled, surprised as well. It wasn't something I'd thought about in the last wee while but it's probably the biggest honour I've ever had.

"I'd probably got an idea about five minutes before the team was announced and I don't think it's the sort of thing you ever turn down; it's a fantastic honour.

"When you've got people like Keith and Mick around it's not something you think about. I've captained the team against the Barbarians a couple of times, which were big occasions, but to captain in Test match is the ultimate."

Humphreys is well aware of the threat posed by his rival stand-off, the record-breaking Diego Dominguez, and added: "I've played against him a lot of times - but only once at international level, and we lost that.

"He's one of the top outside-halves in the world playing for one of the top club sides in the world, Stade Francais, and he's been an outstanding player for the past few seasons at club and international level.

"No matter which team we play they've got good kickers, and giving away penalties is something you try not to do. But that's especially the case with Dominguez."

Humphreys warned Irish fans to expect a tough battle rather than a points-fest against the Italians, who are yet to win a game this season.

He said: "Results suggest they don't travel. But in this Six Nations they actually played very well against France, and the game could have gone either way until the last few minutes.

"So I know it's going to be a lot tougher than a lot of people think."

Humphreys has a goal-kicking pedigree of his own to consider, and his 16-point haul in the win over Scotland on March 2 brought him level with Michael Kiernan as Ireland's record points scorer.

His first point against the Italians on Saturday will send him out on his own, but he said: "Until a couple of games ago it wasn't even something I'd ever considered. But when you get close to it, however long I hold it it will be nice to be record points scorer.

"It won't last for very long, though, because I'm sure Ronan O'Gara will have something to say about that."

Munster's John Kelly will win his first Ireland cap in Saturday's Lloyds TSB Six Nations clash with Italy - but Keith Wood has not been included in the squad.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan, hampered by a series of injuries to key men, has been forced to juggle his back line.

The versatile Kelly has been promoted from the Ireland A side to partner Denis Hickey on the wing after Shane Horgan was forced into a switch to centre as cover for the injured Kevin Maggs and Rob Henderson.

Wood has been out with a calf injury since mid-December and, although he made a comeback for Harlequins last Saturday, the British Lions hooker was not considered.

Shane Byrne will start in his place - while Gary Longwell is preferred to Paul O'Connell as second-row partner for Malcolm O'Kelly, and blindside flanker Eric Miller is replaced by Simon Easterby.

Team
G Dempsey (Leinster); J Kelly (Munster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster); D Humphreys (capt Ulster), P Stringer (Munster); P Clohessy (Munster), S Byrne (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster); G Longwell (Ulster), M O'Kelly (Leinster); S Easterby (Llanelli), D Wallace (Munster), A Foley (Munster).

Replacements: F Sheahan (Munster), P Wallace (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster), E Miller (Leinster), G Easterby (Llanelli), R O'Gara (Munster), T Howe (Ulster).