There have been five changes made to the Ireland team for tonight's clash with South Africa at the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup (St. Albert RFC, Edmonton, kick-off 7pm Irish time).
The Irish management, led by coach Philip Doyle, will be hoping the switches - four in personnel and one positional - make the difference as they seek out their first win of the tournament.
Jean Lonergan and Marie Barrett come back into the front row, with Yvonne Nolan and Gillian McAllister losing out. Also in the pack, Rosie Foley, sister of Munster and Ireland's Anthony, has been named at lock, in preference to Germaine Healy.
Former team captain Suzanne Fleming has got the nod on the left wing, with Amanda Greensmith dropping out of the matchday 22. Louise Beamish is also an absentee from the bench with Mairead Kelly and Laura Guest making their first appearances amongst the replacements.
The positional switch could be crucial for Ireland as current skipper Sarahjane Belton has been moved to full-back in a direct swap with Joanne O'Sullivan.
For the first time in the competition, the Irish, who were beaten by France and the USA in the past week, will head into a game as favourites as the South Africans have suffered huge defeats at the hands of Australia and England, shipping more than 140 points in the process.
The girls in green currently lie in tenth position, but a win could see them force their way into next week's 5th-8th place play-offs.
It is hoped that the experience of both Fleming and Belton in the back three, coupled with the pace of Munster flyer Jeanette Feighery, could see Ireland make serious in-roads when on the attack.
Today is the last day of the pool stages with seven teams still in contention to claim an all-important top four spot and a shot at the title. Two of the unbeaten teams - New Zealand and Scotland - face each other at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
The other two undefeated sides - England and France - meet in the final game at St. Albert RFC, knowing that defeat could see them lose out on a top four position. Hosts Canada, who recovered from an opening day loss at the hands of New Zealand to outclass Spain 79-0, will be looking for another bonus point victory against Kazakhstan.
The USA and Australia face off at St. Albert RFC, knowing a win and favourable results elsewhere could see them sneak into the Cup's final four. Samoa take on Spain in the day's other fixture.
Ireland: Sarahjane Belton (capt); Jeanette Feighery, Lynne Cantwell, Grace Davitt, Suzanne Fleming; Joanne O'Sullivan, Tania Rosser; Fiona Coghlan, Jean Lonergan, Marie Barrett, Caroline Mahon, Rosie Foley, Orla Brennan, Rachel Boyd, Joy Neville.
Replacements: Yvonne Nolan, Laura Guest, Germaine Healy, Eimear O'Sullivan, Mairead Kelly, Nuala Ni Chadhain, Shannon Houston.
South Africa: Zandile Nojoko; Yolanda Meiring, Ingrid Botha (capt), Zolisa Noxeke, Natasha Hofmeester; Marie-Lee Erasmus, Saloma Booysen; Louise Du Pisanie, Babalwa Vena, Cebisa Kula, Dolly Mavumengwana, Wendy Adlem, Wendy Khumalo, Nadine Barnard, Mandisa Willams.
Replacements: Yolandi Marais, Ramona Brown, Sipokazi Jonga, Namhia Siyolo, Fundiswa Plaatjie, Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe, Lamla Momoti.
Referee: Clare Daniels (England)
Touch Judges: Sarah Corrigan (Australia), Christine Hanizet (France)
