The Azzurri have never beaten the world champions but go into the game with a measure of confidence after giving Ireland a real scare in their opening game before going down 26-16 in Dublin last weekend.

Checchinato is urging the home support to get right behind the team as Italy look to create what would be one of the greatest upsets in rugby history.

He said: Our Italian rugby movement is growing very fast, and on Saturday we are counting on the fans to be our secret weapon.

Having avoided the wooden spoon for two straight seasons in 2003 and 2004, there was huge disappointment when Italy lost every match last year, culminating in the sacking of head coach John Kirwan.

His replacement Pierre Berbizier looks to be getting more out of the team and he has rewarded the sides Lansdowne Road display by naming an unchanged XV for the England game.

The former France boss admits the Azzurri face an uphill task but he will accept nothing less than total commitment from his players.

The only matter is to be able to express ourselves at 100% to see how much weve improved after Dublin, he said.

England are a great side, we must play at our best, stay concentrated and wait a make the most of their mistakes.

Berbizier will continue with the experiment of playing Cristian Stoica at full-back after being impressed with his display last weekend.

Stoica played in that role in every game in the 2001 tournament bar the 80-23 defeat at Twickenham, which set a competition record.

Cristian Stoica has played as a full-back before in the 2001 Six Nations, and against the Irish last Saturday he had a convincing performance, said Berbizier.

The head coach also had praise for fly-half Ramiro Pez, who Berbizier believes is playing his best rugby at present and has sparked the improvement in the rest of the team.

I was impressed to see a great Ramiro Pez, he said. He playing at his best and he is very important player for the team.

This is fundamental, because now the squad has total trust the number 10 and everything
is moving a lot more effectively thanks to him.