Ultimately the decision was made for Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan. The debate over who to select at out-half against Italy was deemed irrelevant when Ronan O'Gara's ankle flared up once more and the Corkman was ruled out under advice from a specialist.
David Humphreys, fresh from a 26 point display at Murrayfield, retains the number 10 jersey in a side featuring just one change from that which comprehensively outplayed Scotland.
O'Gara had been tipped by many to replace a resurgent Humphreys but his ankle problem, stemming from the Sinkinson stamping incident in the Celtic League final, worsened after training on Monday and a specialist this morning advised further rest. Paul Burke will again fill the vacancy on the replacements bench where he is joined by British and Irish Lion centre Rob Henderson.
"We expected Ronan to be fine but at training yesterday he was running and there was a reaction," explained O'Sullivan this afternoon.
"It was a bit of a surprise as we were quite confident he'd be fine. But he saw the specialist this morning who said that while there was nothing structurally wrong with the ankle it needed more rest."
Geordan Murphy, who replaced the injured Shane Horgan in Edinburgh, starts on the wing in Rome but may revert to full-back if Girvan Dempsey fails to prove his fitness later in the week. Dempsey has been struggling with a groin strain but is included in the starting XV.
A final decision will be taken on Friday and should Dempsey not make it, Murphy will move to full-back, where he has been more than adept for club side Leicester this season, and Munster's John Kelly, who made a try-scoring debut against Italy last year, will provide cover on the wing.
"Girvan finished the game fine at Murrayfield," O'Sullivan said. "There were noproblems. But on Sunday night it became sore again and it was the same on Monday. We expected him to be okay but we're taking John Kelly as a precaution.
"He'll fill in for Geordan Murphy if Girvan doesn't make it with Geordan going to full-back. But we won't make a decision until Friday."In Keith Wood's continued absence, Brian O'Driscoll will captain the side for the fourth time.
O'Sullivan, who delayed naming his side this afternoon after training had to be switched from a water-logged Naas RFC to the Lakelands, was at pains to stress the threat the Italians will pose on Saturday afternoon.
Having beaten Wales at the Stadio Flaminio for only their second Six Nations victory, O'Sullivan expects John Kirwan's fired-up Azurri to challenge in all areas but identified their back-row as a particular strong point.
"Italy looked very well organised," he said of their display against the Welsh. "I don't believe they will be the walkovers this season as everyone has predicted. They have a good defence, their discipline has improved immeasurably, and they have some very big and powerful runners.
"The fact that they can afford to put flanker Mauro Bergamasco on the wing says a lot about their back-row. It will take us to continue the intensity of our play that was shown against Scotland."
Ireland
15 Girvan Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure College) or Geordan Murphy (Leicester), 14 Geordan Murphy (Leicester) or John Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution), 13 Brian ODriscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College, capt), 12 Kevin Maggs (Bath), 11 Denis Hickie (Leinster/St. Marys College), 10 David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon), 9 Peter Stringer (Munster/Shannon), 8 Anthony Foley (Munster/Shannon), 7 Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St. Mary's College), 6 Victor Costello (Leinster/St. Mary's College), 5 Malcolm OKelly (Leinster/St. Marys College), 4 Gary Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), 3 John Hayes (Munster/Shannon), 2 Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College), 1 Reggie Corrigan (Leinster/Greystones)
Replacements16 Frank Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution), 17 Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon), 18 Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock College), 19 Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon), 20 Guy Easterby (Llanelli), 21 Paul Burke (Harlequins), 22 Rob Henderson (Munster/Young Munster)
Ireland 'A'
J Staunton (Garryowen), J Topping (Ballymena), G D'Arcy (Lansdowne), D Quinlan (Blackrock), T Robinson (Buccaneers), B Everitt (London Irish), N Doak (Belfast Harlequins, capt), J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), P Shields (Belfast Harlequins), S Best (Belfast Harlequins), D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), J Davidson (Dungannon), S Easterby (Llanelli), K Dawson (London Irish), E Miller (Terenure)
Replacements: J Blaney (Shannon), P Bracken (Galwegians), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution), A McCullen (Lansdowne), B O'Meara (Cork Constitution), M Lawlor (Shannon), B Cunningham (Dungannon).