The rampaging Leicester prop is a key figure in an Italian pack that has impressed in the first two games of the tournament and his loss will be keenly felt when the Azzurri head to Dublin hoping to pick up their first win this year.

And in Castrogiovanni’s absence Brunel has opted to include the 27-year-old Staibano in his initial 30-man squad for that key clash.

Staibano has nine caps for Italy but hasn’t appeared since coming off the bench in a 27-6 loss against the All Blacks in Christchurch back in 2009.

Brunel will announce his starting XV on the 22nd February, three days before they take on the Declan Kidney’s troops at the Aviva Stadium.