Manu Tuilagi will make his first start for England in five years in the Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.
England head coach Eddie Jones has decided to opt for Tuilagi due to the absence of Ben Te'o.
Tuilagi -- who has won 27 England caps -- has not started an international match since June 2014 and he has not been a starter in the Six Nations in almost six years.
The Leicester Tigers centre will be partnered with Henry Slade for the first time while wing Jack Nowell makes a return despite recently being sidelined for two months with a hamstring injury.
Elliot Daly will be deployed at full-back while Tom Curry and Mark Wilson are handed their Six Nations debuts.
Elsewhere brothers Mako and Billy Vunipola will play together for the first time this season while Courtney Lawes and Chris Ashton are named on the substitutes bench.
"I think it is quite clear to beat Ireland you have to beat them in the contest area," said Jones in a statement. "They are very good at the breakdown and in the air, both those areas are a priority for us.
"Traditionally England and Ireland games are always very close, they are tough affairs, there is a lot of emotion in the games so our ability to finish the game strongly is going to be vital.
"It is well documented no one thinks we can win, but I can tell you everyone inside our camp believes we can win. We are hugely looking forward to the weekend."
For Tuilagi, his return to the starting lineup makes a fine turnaround for a player who has recently suffered a number of serious injuries.
The centre missed the first three matches of last year's autumn internationals through injury but he made a substitute appearance in the England's 37-18 victory over Australia at Twickenham.
England squad to face Ireland:
Team:
15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jonny May, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Manu Tuiagi, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis , 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements:
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Dan Robson, 22 George Ford, 23 Chris Ashton.