There are also a number of changes on the bench with Jerry Flannery replacing Munster colleague Frankie Sheahan and Simon Best coming in for Bryan Young as front row cover.

Ulster duo Stephen Ferris and Isaac Boss are given the nod over Alan Quinlan and Eoin Reddan while Brian Carney covers the outside backs.

O’Sullivan has gone with his best available side for the first international in Belfast for over half a century but admits the result is not the be all and end all of the game.

“It’s pretty much a full-strength side from what we have. I am looking at what our best combinations will be in the centre if we have injuries and at the moment Andrew Trimble and Gordon D’Arcy are that and hopefully that will be proven on Friday night.

“In these games there is still an element of looking at combinations. Having injuries does force your hand into tinkering with those combinations.

“We’re without our open side Dave Wallace, we have put seven on Neil Best’s back but we might move those around during the game in different situations.

“It’s full strength from what we have available and I was always hoping to go down this road in the last game before the World Cup and put our best team on the field.”

Ireland’s last game at Ravenhill was against Scotland in 1954 and O’Sullivan is looking forward to the match with a keen sense of anticipation.

“It’s a huge occasion, the tickets were sold out almost instantaneously, there were queues around the corner and even when extra tickets went on re-sale there was a huge scramble for them.

“There has been a huge interest with people at training every day. It has been a great atmosphere and the weather has been fantastic. It’s been great for the lads to get that kind of support before the game even kicks off.

“It’s going to be a full house and I’ve been in Ravenhill many a Friday night for Heineken Cup games and when it starts cooking there it’s great stuff.

“It’s our final game before we head off to the World Cup, we want to create an atmosphere where we’re playing good rugby and getting the crowd behind us.

“In the match last week against Bayonne we played two good quarters and lost our shape, on Friday I’m hoping we keep our shape for the whole game.”

Italy are familiar foes for Ireland as they meet in the Six Nations and despite the physical nature of the clash with the French club side last week O’Sullivan knows Friday’s game provides another step up in class.

“Italy are a bigger ask than Bayonne and it will be all hands to the pump but I’m hoping we hit the ground somewhat running and give the crowd something to cheer about.

“Italy are good opponents because the one thing I want at this time of the year is physicality. They are the most physical team in the Six Nations, the morning after an Italy match you’re that bit more bruised and sore.

“They play a very intense game of rugby whether they play the same way on Friday I don’t know.

“When we played them in Rome we got our game plan just about right.

“The game will have everything we want, it will be robust, fast, intense and passionate and I think that is a great way to get ready for a World Cup.”