South Africa received a boost on Friday ahead of their 'grand slam' tour opener against Ireland when centre Jean de Villiers was passed fit to take his place in the world champions' midfield.

Springbok captain Victor Matfield, speaking to reporters at Lansdowne Road on Friday, said the 63-times capped de Villiers had "pulled through" following a groin problem and would start here on Saturday.

"Jean's pulled through, he will be ready," Matfield, leading the injury-hit side in place of John Smit -- one of 13 players ruled out of the tour -- said.

"Willem Alberts didn't come through so Keegan Daniel will come into the 22."

Veteran lock Matfield said he was delighted to have someone of de Villiers's experience in wing Bryan Habana apart, an otherwise fledgling back division.

"It's great. He's our leader in the backline. It will be nice for me as well to have Jean there, making calls and keeping everything together. He's a quality player so it's great that he's fit."

Uncapped fly-half Patrick Lambie, man-of-the-match for the Sharks in last week's South African domestic Currie Cup final win against Western Province, is on the bench.

The 20-year-old was in line to start in midfield if de Villiers had been ruled out.

South Africa, bidding to complete a first clean sweep of wins over the four 'Home Nations' on the one tour since 1960, only arrived in Dublin on Thursday and come into this match on the back of a dreadful Tri-Nations where they won just one of their six fixtures against Australia and New Zealand.

This weekend also sees them trying to avoid a fourth straight defeat by Ireland in what will be the first international match staged at Lansdowne Road since the total redevelopment.

South Africa

Gio Aplon; Bjorn Basson, Zane Kirchner, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Deon Stegmann; Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha; Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Res: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe, Keegan Daniel, Francois Hougaard, Adi Jacobs, Patrick Lambie.

Ireland

Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Stephen Ferris; Mick O'Driscoll, Donncha O'Callagha; Tony Buckley, Rory Best, Cian Healy. Res: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Donncha Ryan, Denis Leamy, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Keith Earls.

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