Skipper.

Ireland interim head coach Sinon Easterby looks set to go with a surprise choice as his captain for this weekend’s Six Nations showdown with Wales.

Regular skipper Caelan Doris will miss the game this weekend with a knee injury and there has been plenty of speculation as to who will lead Ireland in his absence.

According to The Irish Times, Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland in his first start of the tournament this year after successfully making a comeback from a serious knee injury in recent weeks.

Sheehan is set to be a part of a number of changes to Ireland’s starting XV, with Mack Hansen recovering to reclaim his spot on the wing, and Jack Conan coming in to replace Doris among the other changes.

Jamie Osborne also looks set to make his first start of the tournament, as does Thomas Clarkson and a fit-again Joe McCarthy, with Sam Prendergast retaining the number 10 jersey.

Here’s the full expected team.

IRELAND (possible v Wales): Jamie Osborne (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster, captain), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster); Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster).