Ireland welcome back a number of key players as they make six changes to their starting team for Sunday’s Six Nations match against Scotland.

Conor Murray, Dan Sheehan, Peter O’Mahony are also recalled to the Irish starting line-up.

Fit-again Robbie Henshaw and Jamison Gibson-Park are named among the replacements for the Murrayfield game.

Ireland continue their bid for the Grand Slam after winning their opening three matches, Andy Farrell’s side having defeated Wales, France and Italy as they chase a first clean sweep of victories since 2018.

Sexton replaces Leinster team-mate Ross Byrne after missing the win over Italy because of a groin problem, with Murray being selected after producing an impressive performance as a substitute against Italy.

Replacement scrum-half Gibson-Park is likely to see his first action of the 2023 Six Nations as Craig Casey drops out of the squad following his first Six Nations start in Rome.

Ringrose reclaims his berth at outside centre after being a late withdrawal from the win over Italy, Bundee Aki having switched from 12 for that game and Stuart McCloskey slotting in at inside centre.

Aki retains his place in the team for the match in Edinburgh, with McCloskey understood to have suffered a minor “niggling” injury.

Prop Furlong is another who has not played any part in the championship so far – he comes into the front row to replace Connacht tight-head Finlay Bealham, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the competition with a knee injury after starting the first three games.

Furlong has not started a game since 3 December so Ulster’s Tom O’Toole will expect to be given some significant game time off the bench.

Sheehan returns at hooker after fully overcoming his hamstring injury, with Ronan Kelleher preferred to Rob Herring as back-up in the matchday 23.

Henderson continues in the second row alongside James Ryan in the absence of the injured Tadhg Beirne, the Ulsterman getting the nod ahead of Ryan Baird, another who performed well when introduced off the bench against Italy.

James Lowe reported calf soreness after that encounter in Rome but is passed fit to start the crucial encounter against the Scots.

O’Mahony’s return means Caelan Doris moves from the flanker role he fulfilled against Italy to his more accustomed position at number eight.

Henshaw returns to the squad having not played since November because of hamstring and wrist injuries.

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Murray; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Henderson, Ryan, O’Mahony, van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, O’Toole, Baird, Conan, Gibson-Park, Byrne, Henshaw.