Five uncapped Irishmen will start against the Maori All Blacks tomorrow but Andy Farrell has been hit by the loss of Iain Henderson for the entire tour.
The Ulster skipper's knee injury, sustained in training last Saturday, has ended his hopes of facing New Zealand in any of the upcoming three Test matches.
Henderson played an integral part in Ireland's latest victory against New Zealand - in Dublin last November.
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But that was only one of his Test starts for him in an injury-hit season and Ulster will be hopeful this latest setback does not hamper his prospects of being ready for the start of next term.
Farrell was already dealing with the loss of hooker Rob Herring for the first Test of a series that begins in Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, with Niall Scannell already in New Zealand as back-up, while Mack Hansen is isolating after picking up Covid.
In the All Blacks' camp, meanwhile, a third probable backs starter has picked up Covid with Will Jordan joining centres Jack Goodhue and David Havili on the sidelines, along with head coach Ian Foster and John Plumtree, hastening former Leinster and Ireland supremo Joe Schmidt into the set-up.
Scannell has been named on the bench for tomorrow's meeting with the Maoris in Hamilton (8.05am Irish time).
Bundee Aki, who himself has only returned from injury, will skipper the side for the fixture.
It promises to be a tough opening hit-out for the visitors and the spotlight will be on Ciaran Frawley, in particular, after he named at out-half.
Frawley's versatility would have convinced Farrell to bring him on the five-game tour and, intriguingly, the Leinster man is named at no 10 ahead of his provincial colleague Harry Byrne, while Joey Carbery will provide bench back-up.
Another Leinster back, Jimmy O'Brien, gets the nod at full-back while in the pack Munster prop Jeremy Loughman, emerging Leinster lock Joe McCarthy and Connacht flanker Cian Prendergast get their opportunity.
In fact the Ireland forwards have just four Tests between them, so this FMG Stadium encounter will be a real examination.
Ireland: Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas); Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College), James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge), Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians, capt), Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster); Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/Skerries), Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon); Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen), Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers), Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch); Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena), Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin University); Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge), Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster).
Replacements: Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf), Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers), Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University), Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere), Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen), Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf), Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge).
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