Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has chosen to play Bergamasco, who is normally a full-back or wing, in the centre for Saturdays opening RBS 6 Nations game at Lansdowne Road.

The 22-year-old will partner Gonzalo Canale in the midfield, with Christian Stoica at full-back, and he knows they face a massive challenge in trying to contain Irelands world-class pairing.

Im so excited about Saturdays game when me and Gonzalo are going to be up against one of the best centre partnerships in the world, Bergamasco said.

ODriscoll and DArcy have been in outstanding form for their province Leinster in recent weeks, and Bergamasco is aware they hold an advantage having played together so many times for both club and country.

They are both paying well with Leinster at the moment having recovered from injuries, and they are capable of causing us many problems on the pitch, Bergamasco said.

But despite the respect Bergamasco has for his much-vaunted opponents, the combative three-quarter has no intention of showing them too much respect come Saturday.

Personally I am planning on challenging DArcy from the outset. He is a player I have always admired, because he is outstanding with the ball in hand. He never gives up and keeps attacking his opponents all the time, he added.

Its going to be tough, but we have to stop them because otherwise they will turn the game in Irelands direction.

And general manager Marco Bollesan insists Italy will go straight for the jugular when they take on Ireland.

Some people will be surprised at the XV we have picked to face Ireland on Saturday, but I'm not, he said.

The 30 players we have in our squad are all at a similar level so Im sure this is a good team.

We have no fear and we will try to create havoc with their tactics. We are going to try to strike right to the heart of their defensive set-up.

The Azzurri may be heavy underdogs but Bollesan has not given up hope of seeing his side snatch an unlikely victory.

We will see what happens, he added. If they win, it doesn't matter. We will go out to play a good game of rugby.