New Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez has travelled with a squad of just 16 players after the withdrawal of many through injury, including his other goalkeeper Roy Carroll of Manchester Utd.
Blues midfielder Damien Johnson had been on standby but he withdrew because of an ankle injury.
That left just Taylor as the senior pro amongst the Irish ranks with 33 caps to his name and although Wimbledon defender Mark Williams has already led his country, Sanchez has opted to name the Blues keeper as his skipper for the night.
Former Blues full-back Tony Capaldi, now at Plymouth Argyle, wins his first full cap for the Irish.
Northern Ireland: Taylor, Baird, Williams, Craigan, Capaldi, Jones, Whitley, Sonner, Mulryne, Healy, Smith.