Ireland have recalled Geordan Murphy and Jerry Flannery for Saturday’s crucial showdown with Argentina at Croke Park.

Murphy returns at full-back with Girvan Dempsey dropping out of the squad altogether following Saturday’s 22-3 defeat by New Zealand.

Flannery is restored to the front row, forcing hooker Rory Best - who has recovered from a dead leg - to settle for a place among the substitutes.

In the third and final change to the side swept aside by New Zealand, Ulster back-row Stephen Ferris replaces Alan Quinlan in the number six jersey.

Quinlan was last night suspended for three weeks after a citing for stamping against the All Blacks was upheld by a disciplinary hearing.

Ireland have opted to appeal the decision and with the hearing being held tomorrow, a space on the bench has been left open in case Quinlan wins a late reprieve.

Leinster veteran Malcolm O’Kelly, Ireland’s most capped player with 91 appearances, will provide second row cover from the bench.

Lions lock Paul O’Connell has shaken off his dead leg and continues in an all-Munster tight five.

Argentina have won the last three matches of a highly competitive rivalry spanning 10 meetings over just 18 years, with the series locked at five wins apiece.

It was the irrepressible Pumas who sealed Ireland’s demise at last year’s World Cup, cruising to a 30-15 victory that dumped Brian O’Driscoll’s side out at the group stage.

The contest was the third of three pivotal World Cup encounters between the teams, who also met in 1999 and 2001.

And Saturday’s showdown in Dublin - where Argentina have never won - is another seismic contest as Ireland must triumph to retain eighth place in the world rankings.

Victory will ensure they are among the seeds for the 2011 World Cup draw On December 1, while defeat would see them selected in a group containing two top-tier nations.