Kirwan has also recalled the experienced Cristian Stoica at centre at the expense of Walter Pozzebon, while David dal Maso has been given the unenviable task of replacing the talismanic Mauro Bergamasco at flanker.

Bergamasco is recovering from an operation on the fractured cheekbone he sustained in the defeat to Wales and will be watching on the sidelines as Italy aim to clinch their first-ever away victory in the tournament at Murrayfield.

Italy have lost both of their opening two RBS 6 Nations matches but team manager Marco Bollesan is confident they can return from their trip to Edinburgh triumphant.

I really believe this is the team who will have all our faith for Saturdays game, he said.

We lost a player like Mauro Bergamasco who has been important for us, but John (Kirwan) has put together the best team at present, if not ever, and we are going to Scotland for the first away win and nothing else.

Italy team for RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday:
R de Marigny (Parma); Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), C Stoica (Montpellier), A Masi (Viadana), L Nitoglia (Calvisano); L Orquera (Padova), A Troncon (Treviso); A Lo Cicero (L'Aquilla), F Ongaro (Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), S Dellape (Agen), M Bortolami (Narbonne, capt), A Persico (Agen), D dal Maso (Treviso), S Parisse (Treviso).

Replacements: G Intoppa (Calvisano), S Perugini (Calvisano), CA Del Fava (Parma), S Orlando (Treviso), P Griffen (Calvisano), R Pedrazzi (Viadana), K Robertson (Viadana).