Women's Six Nations: England's Emily Scarratt to win 100th cap

Emily Scarratt made her England debut in 2008

Centre Emily Scarratt will win her 100th England cap in her home town of Leicester in Sunday's Women's Six Nations encounter with Ireland.

Helena Rowland makes her first Test start at full-back as head coach Simon Middleton names his strongest starting XV of the tournament so far.

World player of the year Zoe Aldcroft makes her return from injury at lock, pushing Poppy Cleall to the bench.

The defending champions face an Ireland side missing several key players.

With Ireland's sevens and XV-a-side programmes combined, seven of the usual starting side will be away preparing for a sevens event in Canada.

Molly Scuffil-McCabe will make her Ireland debut against England, while Niamh Byrne is set to earn her first cap off the bench.

Lock Nichola Fryday captains Ireland, with 24-year-old Scuffil-McCabe joining Aoife Doyle and Eimear Considine in the back three.

Sene Naoupu was left out of Ireland's initial 38-player squad for the tournament

The experienced Sene Naoupu returns to the green jersey in midfield alongside Enya Breen.

The half-back pairing of Nicole Cronin and Kathryn Dane remains unchanged.

In the pack, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Christy Haney continue their front-row partnership, while Fryday leads from the second row alongside Aoife McDermott, who comes in for the injured Sam Monaghan.

The back row of Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon and Hannah O'Connor is unchanged.

On the bench, Grace Moore, Maeve Og O'Leary and Michelle Claffey are set for their first appearances of the tournament, with Byrne completing the 23.

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England captain Sarah Hunter praised Scarratt for reaching the milestone and helping to boost the exposure of women's rugby along the way with her work in the media.

"I feel very honoured not only to call her my team-mate but my friend as well," Hunter said.

"I hope she starts to realise what she's done - not just 100 caps but what she's done to bring the women's game forward.

"I hope she takes all the plaudits. She fully deserves all this attention."

Missing Ireland players 'a shame'

Middleton rotated most of his 40-player squad through the first three games, previously saying those matches would be an opportunity for players to earn a starting shirt in the last two rounds.

With a record crowd of more than 15,000 expected, the head coach is deploying all his best players as England prepare for a possible title decider against France - also unbeaten so far - on the final weekend.

Lydia Thompson is named on the right wing, with Holly Aitchison at 12 and Leanne Infante starting at scrum-half for her 50th cap.

Jess Breach impressed on her return against Wales and moves across to the left wing to make way for Thompson.

Rowland - normally a fly-half or centre - fills the gap left by Abby Dow, who is a doubt for October's World Cup after suffering a broken leg against Wales.

Hooker Amy Cokayne and prop Hannah Botterman are set to return from injury as they are named among the replacements.

England are on track to claim a fourth successive Six Nations title after three bonus-point wins and face an Ireland side who have claimed one win in three games.

Middleton said Ireland's lack of available players is "a shame because they were going really well".

"Ultimately it's down to where they put their priorities," he added.

"If they feel that at this point in time they're working towards a different goal in terms of sevens or XVs, it's down to them."

Counterpart Greg McWilliams said: "This is an exciting opportunity for players who are desperate for the chance to showcase their talent on the biggest stage.

"As we embark on this journey as a group, we need to test the squad depth, build the playing pool and competition within the dressing room, and there is no greater challenge than facing this world-class England side in front of what will be a record crowd."

England: Rowland; Thompson, Scarratt, Aitchison, Breach; Harrison, Infante; Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, Packer, Hunter (capt).

Replacements: Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Galligan, Cleall, Hunt, Reed, Kildunne.

Ireland: Scuffil-McCabe; Doyle, Naoupu, Breen, Considine; Cronin, Dane; Djougang, Jones, Haney; Fryday (capt), McDermott; Wall, McMahon, O'Connor.

Replacements: Hooban, Pearse, O'Dwyer, Moore, Og O'Leary, Reilly, Claffey, Byrne.