Joe Schmidt has named his first starting XV as Ireland coach. It features one new cap with Leinster's Jack McGrath starting at prop.
Jamie Heaslip will captain the team this weekend with Paul O'Connell named Ireland captain for the season.
The team to face Samoa on Saturday is as follows:
Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Fergus McFadden, Paddy Jackson, Conor Murray, Jamie Heaslip (captain), Chris Henry, Peter O'Mahony, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Mike Ross, Rory Best, Jack McGrath
Replacements:
Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Declan Fitzpatrick, Paul O'Connell, Sean O'Brien, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Dave Kearney
Schmidt added that Jonny Sexton did not train today or on Tuesday but that he will be fit to play Australia and New Zealand.
