Ireland's head coach Declan Kidney has made four changes to his side for Saturday's Six Nations match against Scotland. It is the first time Kidney has tinkered with his line-up during the tournament, opting to freshen up his team in a bid to clinch the Grand Slam.

Gordon D'Arcy comes in for Paddy Wallace at inside centre for his first Test start since breaking his arm in last year's Six Nations, while veteran scrum-half Peter Stringer wrestles the number nine jersey from Tomas O'Leary, a reward for his fine substitution display in the 14-13 victory over England 10 days ago.

Kidney has also made two changes up front with Rory Best displacing Jerry Flannery at hooker and number eight Denis Leamy usurping the in-form Jamie Heaslip. Wallace, O'Leary, Flannery and Heaslip all drop to the bench for the match at Murrayfield.

"The four guys who have come in have been doing very well in training and have a done a good job whenever they've come on," Kidney said.

"The lads who are out have done nothing wrong. The new guys will bring their own chemistry to the team and have a wealth of experience, which we'll need against Scotland."

Ireland are the only unbeaten team in this year's Six Nations with victories over France, Italy and England putting them on course for a first Grand Slam since 1948, and success against Scotland would leave them with a likely title decider against Wales at the Millennium Stadium a week later.

John Hayes will become Ireland's most capped player on Saturday, having already equalled the record of 92 appearances established by Malcolm O'Kelly against England. It will be the 35-year-old Munster tight-head's 48th successive championship appearance.

Ireland team to play Scotland on 14 March

R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), G D'Arcy (Leinster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster); R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster).

Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), T Court (Ulster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster), T O'Leary (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster), G Murphy (Leicester).

· This article was amended on Wednesday March 11 2009. We referred to Gordon D'Arcy as Graham D'Arcy. This has been corrected.