He is joined in the backline by Craig Gilroy, who has recovered from the groin strain that kept him out of last week’s draw with France.
Luke Marshall has been given the all clear to start at inside-centre in the match following a concussion concern earlier in the week. Rory Best will win his 67th cap for Ireland at hooker.
Ulster scrum-half Paul Marshall could be in line to win his first senior cap for Ireland after he was selected on the bench. He is joined in the substitutes by backrow Iain Henderson.
IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Italy, 2013 RBS 6 Nations Championship, StadioOlimpico, Rome, Saturday, March 16, kick-off 3.30pm local time/2.30pm GMT):
Club/Province/International Caps -
15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster/45)
14 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster/4)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster/124)
12 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/2)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster/38)
10 –Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster2)
9 -Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster/18)
1 -Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster/38)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster/66)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster/28)
4 - Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht/9)
5 -Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster/27)
6 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster/13)
7 - Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster/26)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster/56) (capt)
Replacements:
16 - Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster/25)
17 - David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/6)
18 - Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
19 - Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/4)
20 - Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster/4)
21 - Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
22 -Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster/1)
23 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster/25)
* Denotes uncapped player