Italy have made four changes plus one positional switch for Saturday’s RBS Six Nations match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
They bring in wing Kaine Robertson, scrum-half Pablo Canavosio, lock Carlo Del Fava and flanker Paul Derbyshire while Andrea Masi switches from wing to centre.
But both Del Fava and Derbyshire will be subject to late fitness checks after the forward duo picked up muscle injuries in pre-match training.
The pair impressed coach Nick Mallett after coming on as second-half substitutes in last week’s 46-20 defeat in France, contributing to a late rally in which Del Fava scored a try.
If they are not fit, second-row Marco Bortolami and back-rower Josh Sole will return to the starting side and Valerio Bernabo and Manoa Vosawai will come onto the bench.
Canavosio was chosen at scrum-half after coming on for the untidy Tito Tebaldi in Paris and scoring a late try. Robertson was recalled after starting the Azzurri’s opening 29-11 defeat in Ireland. Gonzalo Canale drops to the bench with Masi switched to outside centre.
Mallett had stuck with the same side for the previous three games, against France, Scotland and a 17-12 defeat by England.
Wales and Italy both go into match with two points gained from wins over Scotland and the loser could finish last if the Scots, who drew 15-15 with England last weekend, beat Ireland in Dublin.
Italy: L McLean (Treviso); K Robertson (Viadana), A Masi (Racing-Metro), G Garcia (Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais); C Gower (Bayonne), P Canavosio (Viadana); S Perugini (Bayonne), L Ghiraldini (Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), C Del Fava (Viadana)/M Bortolami (Gloucester), Q Geldenhuys (Viadana), P Derbyshire (Padova)/J Sole (Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), A Zanni (Treviso).
Replacements: F Ongaro (Saracens), M Aguero (Saracens), M Bortolami (Gloucester)/V Bernabo (Roma), J Sole (Viadana)/M Vosawai (Parma), T Tebaldi (Gran Parma), R Bocchino (Rovigo), G Canale (Clermont Auvergne).
