A shoulder injury kept Sexton out of the summer tour that included a first-ever victory over the Springboks on South African soil.
Also restored to the lineup after a hamstring strain is full back Rob Kearney.
The Irish face a punishing programme of four internationals in four weeks with the All Blacks match followed by three games in Dublin against Canada, New Zealand again and Australia.
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Team: 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best (captain), 3-Tadhg Furlong, 4-Donnacha Ryan, 5-Devin Toner, 6-CJ Stander, 7-Jordi Murphy, 8-Jamie Heaslip, 9-Conor Murray, 10-Johnny Sexton, 11-Simon Zebo, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 13-Jared Payne, 14-Andrew Trimble, 15-Rob Kearney
Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Finlay Bealham, 19-Ultan Dillane, 20-Josh van der Flier, 21-Kieran Marmion, 22-Joey Carbery, 23-Garry Ringrose.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Tony Jimenez)
