The Azzurri tackle the best foreign players of the Super 10 tournament in the match, a week before Italys first RBS 6 Nations game against Ireland.

Kirwan has included in the squad injured back Gonzalo Canale although he admits he may have to do without him.

Excluded are both Dallan brothers - Manuel and Denis - who have both suffered with injury.

I am hoping that Manuel Dallan will be back in three weeks but I dont think I will have his brother Denis available until the summer, said Kirwan at Wednesdays press conference.

However, the Azzurri are hopeful that Sergio Parisse and Andrea Lo Cicero will be fit for the game against the Triple Crown winners in Rome.

The good news is the return of former captain Alessandro Troncon who is expected to be included in Kirwans RBS 6 Nations squad.

Troncon missed last years tournament with a serious knee injury picked up during the 2003 World Cup in Australia.

Italy federation president Giancarlo Dondi is optimistic that the Azzurri will play better in this years RBS 6 Nations.

We expect to show improvement in our sixth campaign and to achieve at least one win as last year," said Giancarlo Dondi.

Italy squad: Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Cristian Bezzi (Viadana), Marco Bortolami (Narbonne), Martin Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), Salvatore Costanzo (Treviso), David Dal Maso (Treviso), Carlo Antonio Del Fava (Parma), Santiago Dellape (Agen), Giorgio Intoppa (Calvisano), Andrea Lo Cicero (LAquila). Fabio Ongaro (Treviso), Silvio Orlando (Treviso), Sergio Parisse (Treviso), Aaron Persico (Agen), Salvatore Perugini (Calvisano), Mario Savi (Viadana), Matteo Barbini (Padova), Mirco Bermagasco (Stade Francais), Gonzalo Canale (Treviso), Roland De Marigny (Parma), Paul Griffen (Calvisano), Andrea Masi (Viadana), Ludovico Nitoglia (Calvisano), Luciano Orquera (Padova), Walter Pozzebon (Treviso), Kaine Paul Robertson (Viadana), Andrea Scanavacca (Rovigo), Cristian Stoica (Montpellier), Pietro Travagli (Viadana), Alessandro Troncon (Treviso).