Ireland have started their 2013 Six Nations campaign against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Wales are defending champions after winning the Grand Slam last year but they failed to win a game in the November Series.
Jamie Heaslip captains the side while Simon Zebo and Craig Gilroy start on the wings.
Keith Earls and Chris Henry miss out today - Brian O'Driscoll's return from injury means that Earls has to settle for a place on the bench, after Kidney decided to persist with the attacking flair shown by Zebo and Gilroy during the November International Series.
The pair have been named on the wings, with Rob Kearney completing the back three.
O'Driscoll and Gordan D'Arcy will partner each other in the centre for the 48th time at international level.
The other major selection decision for Kidney was how best to accomodate the return for Sean O'Brien to the back-row, with Ulster's stand-in captain, Henry the player to make way as Peter O'Mahony moves to blindside flanker.
Donnacha Ryan and Mike McCarthy will start in the second row, while Mike Ross, Rory Best and Cian Healy form the front row.
Conor Murray partners Jonathan Sexton at half-back.