Six Nations: Bundee Aki returns for Ireland as Scotland make three changes for showdown as they seek first title in competition's current format

Bundee Aki is set to make his first appearance of Ireland's Six Nations as they prepare for a showdown against Scotland at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Aki, who was suspended for the opening three rounds, is also among the replacements and poised to make his first appearance of the tournament.

The 35-year-old, who missed Connacht's URC game against Zebre and Ireland's fixtures against France, Italy and England after being banned by the URC's disciplinary committee for "verbal abuse and disrespect" towards match officials, has been handed the number 23 jersey.

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Ireland and Scotland go head-to-head for the Triple Crown in a bid to keep alive their respective title hopes before table-topping France host England in the final fixture of the championship.

Ireland sit third in the table, but can still win the Six Nations if they beat Scotland with a bonus point and France lose to England.

Hooker Dan Sheehan, lock Joe McCarthy and openside flanker Josh van der Flier return to the forward pack, with Ronan Kelleher and Nick Timoney dropping to the bench and James Ryan ruled out by a calf injury.

Tommy O'Brien is preferred to Jacob Stockdale on the left wing in the sole alteration among the backs following last week's 27-17 bonus-point win over Wales.

With Ryan unavailable, Connacht lock Darragh Murray, 24, is in line to make his championship debut - and win his third Test cap - from the bench.

Jack Crowley again partners scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, with Ciaran Frawley retained as fly-half cover ahead of Sam Prendergast.

Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose, backed up by the returning Aki, continue in midfield, while Robert Baloucoune and Jamie Osborne are retained at right wing and full-back respectively.

In the pack, props Tom O'Toole and Tadhg Furlong join Sheehan in the front row, Tadhg Beirne partners McCarthy, and captain Caelan Doris lines up in the middle of the back row, between Jack Conan and Van der Flier.

Head coach Farrell said: "It is an incredible privilege for the squad to play at home in front of a packed Aviva Stadium with a trophy up for grabs.

"We know about the challenge facing us on Saturday and Scotland will travel with confidence.

"You'll see two teams who like to attack and we'll look to implement our game plan to get the performance that we want.

"When you factor in a loud home support and with the game taking place on St Patrick's weekend, it really has all the ingredients for a cracking contest."

Three changes for title-chasing Scotland

Gregor Townsend has brought Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist into the second row due to injuries for Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, while Zander Fagerson comes in to start at tighthead prop having impressed as a replacement in last weekend's thrilling win over France.

Scotland are in contention to win their first Six Nations title on the final weekend for the first time since the competition expanded to include Italy in 2000.

They are level on points with leaders France, so need to better the defending champions' result when they travel to Dublin in the first of Saturday's three matches.

France face England in the last match, knowing a bonus-point victory would secure them the title no matter what Scotland do.

Edinburgh lock Gilchrist, 35, is set to win his 88th cap for his country, becoming Scotland's all-time record appearance-maker for a second row.

Front row Fagerson replaces D'Arcy Rae at tighthead, while the back row of Glasgow trio Matt Fagerson, vice-captain Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey remains unchanged.

Wing Darcy Graham will resume in an unchanged back line after becoming Scotland's all-time leading try-scorer with a brace in last week's thrilling 50-40 win against France.

Asked if he had allowed himself to ponder leading the Scots to a first title of the Six Nations era, head coach Townsend said: "No. It's out of our hands, really.

"We can only do a certain amount. It's a game for us to play against an opponent that's had the upper hand on us for years.

"We're playing them away from home. They've got a brilliant record at home. It's a challenge but a real opportunity for us to go and deliver an even better performance than we did last week.

"It would be great to finish the championship with a win and finish on a high. That will obviously carry on the momentum and if that means we win the game, we obviously know there's something at stake.

"Those that have been selected know that it is a big opportunity. It's not a cup final, there's not just two teams in this championship, but there is an element of that. It's the last game of the tournament, so we'll leave everything out there."

Ireland team to face Scotland

Starting XV: 15 Jamie Osborne; 14 Robert Baloucoune; 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey; 11 Tommy O'Brien; 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Tom O'Toole, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 Joe McCarty, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Craig Casey, 22 CIaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki.

Scotland team to face Ireland

Starting XV: 15 Blair Kinghorn,14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11, Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Max Williamson, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman,17 Rory Sutherland, 18 D'arcy Rae, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 George Horne, 22 Kyle Rowe, 23 Tom Jordan.