Humphreys set to break Kyle's record against Fiji
Humphreys will win his 47th cap for Ireland against Fiji and one way or the other will lead the side onto the pitch as he exceeds Jack Kyle's record number of appearances in the green jersey.
The Irish management were tight-lipped about the prospects of Humphreys captaining the side but with Keith Wood and Brian O'Driscoll out of the squad, it appears to be a certain development.
Wood is still ruled out with injury or inadequate preparation for a test game, and coach Eddie O'Sullivan has decided to rest O'Driscoll in advance of the following week's clash with next year's World Cup pool opponents Argentina.
Anthony Foley, hailed for his contribution in the 18-9 victory over Australia on Saturday, is another serious contender but he is likely to be overlooked on two counts. One is that Humphreys will be rewarded for his service to the team and the second is that he has already been named earlier this month as one of three vice-captains along with O'Driscoll and Foley.
Ronan O'Gara, though named in the squad, will surely be rested, but O'Sullivan is likely to make some further alterations to the starting line up.
Justin Bishop has been named in the 22 along with Geordan Murphy. Both are likely to play at some stage of the match as will Kieron Dawson in the absence of Keith Gleeson, another of the Irish heroes to be given a break.
It should also be an opportunity for Marcus Horan, the only bona fide loosehead prop in the squad. Paul
Wallace could make a start, but at worst will get some time on the pitch.
Another to enter the equation is Leinster's Gordon D'Arcy. The full back/winger was named to fill a vacancy in the squad.
Australia has complained about injury but a quick look through the list of Ireland's walking wounded shows there might be something else to come from the men in green.
Jonathan Bell, Emmet Byrne, Bob Casey, Jeremy Davidson, Simon Easterby, Rob Henderson, Anthony Horgan, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Andy Ward and, of course, Wood, are all ruled out for various reasons.
Still, the Irish can call upon a strong group of players and a number of them have something to prove. Bishop was particularly delighted at being selected in the squad. "It's an opportunity that I haven't had in a while and it's great to be back. It doesn't matter what the opposition is. The most important thing is that I am in the frame and I might get a chance to prove myself again. It's an opportunity and I will take anything I can."
Meanwhile, John Kelly faces a medical examination in Cork today after coming on as a replacement against the Wallabies on Saturday.
Kelly injured his knee midway through the second half and there may be slight ligament damage.
Ireland squad to play Fiji:
Backs: J Bishop (London Irish), G Easterby (Llanelli), S Horgan (Lansdowne), D Humphreys (Dungannon), J Kelly (Cork Constitution),
K Maggs (Bath), G Murphy (Leicester), R O'Gara (Cork Constitution), P Stringer (Shannon),
G D'Arcy (Lansdowne).
Forwards: S Byrne (Blackrock), L Cullen (Blackrock), K Dawson (London Irish), A Foley (Shannon), J Hayes (Shannon), M Horan (Shannon),
E Miller (Terenure), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution), M O'Kelly (St Mary's), A Quinlan (Shannon), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), P Wallace (Blackrock).
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