O’Driscoll is captain in Italian experiment
Indeed, he and David Humphreys are the only players to retain their places in an experimental side.
O'Driscoll, who takes the captain's armband from the rested Keith Wood is relishing the outing, as he feels he had a low key performance against the Welsh.
"I would have to put my hands up and say I didn't do particularly well in Dublin. After the match I thought to myself that I would like to go back out there and start again."
However, Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan was not unduly concerned by the somewhat lack-lustre performance against Wales, as his eyes remain fixed on the bigger prize.
"This selection had nothing to do with the performance against Wales.
"Had we been in the middle of the Six Nations there would not be too many changes. We have always said that these three pre-World Cup games would be used to give all the players an opportunity to press their claims for a place in the 30 man squad to go to Australia."
These matches Ireland play Scotland in Murrayfield on Saturday week are also timed to give front line players like Denis Hickie and John Hayes an opportunity to prove their match fitness after long periods out through injury.
Hickie is confident he has recovered from his thigh muscle problems however the news on Hayes is not as positive.
The Munster man strained a calf muscle during a training session at the University of Limerick yesterday and must await a medical scan to discover the seriousness of the complaint.
Victor Costello, who withdrew from the Welsh game, is back in the team and plays at number eight while Eric Miller has been named as open side flanker.
Both O'Sullivan and O'Driscoll, irrespective of the experimental look about the Italian team named yesterday, agree on one thing Ireland face a telling physical examination on Saturday.
"The Italians relish the physical nature of the game and they're a difficult side to turn over when they win possession. They will pose a very serious threat if they can keep the phases going," said the coach.
O'Driscoll went a bit further when he described Italy as the second only to England in terms of physicality.
"Even if we beat them fairly well one thing is sure, and that's we will know we were in a very physical match on Sunday morning,"
The experienced Alessandro Troncon, one of four survivors from the team that started and lost heavily to Scotland at Murrayfield last week, will captain the side. It includes one new cap, left winger Diego Sacca.
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