The 30-year-old Australian born fly half will form an untested half back combination with Treviso club mate and young hopeful Edoardo Gori who has been impressing in the Magner’s League.

Mallett has also benefited from the return of captain Sergio Parisse, whose participation was under threat due to a dislocated finger.

The Stade Français No.8 missed the whole of last year’s Championship but is fit to play alongside Alessandro Zanni and Josh Sole.

With Leicester star Martin Castrogiovanni in the front row alongside veteran Salvatore Perugini, Italy will be hoping to put pressure on an Irish scrum which struggled in the autumn.

15 – Luke McLean (Benneton Treviso)
14 – Andrea Masi (Racing Metro)
13 – Gonzalo Canale (Clermont Auvergne)
12 – Alberto Sgarbi (Benneton Treviso)
11 – Mirco Bergamasco (Racing Metro)
10 – Kris Burton (Benneton Treviso)
9 – Edoardo Gori (Benneton Treviso)
1 – Salvatore Perugini (Aironi)
2 – Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benneton Treviso)
3 – Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers)
4 – Santiago Dellapè (Racing Metro)
5 – Quentin Geldenhuys (Aironi)
6 – Josh Sole (Aironi)
7 – Alessandro Zanni (Benneton Treviso)
8 – Sergio Parisse (Stade Français) (c)

Replacements:
16 – Fabio Ongaro (Aironi)
17 – Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro)
18 – Carlo Del Fava (Aironi)
19 – Valerio Bernabó (Benneton Treviso)
20 – Paolo Canavosio (Aironi)
21 – Luciano Orquera (Brive)
22 – Gonzalo Garcia (Benneton Treviso)