The Gloucester lock rates last seasons effort in the competition as the best since Italys induction into the competition and believes he can lead them to an even better display this time around.

Bortolamis team have put in some impressive displays in their last few matches, beating Canada by a handsome 41-6 margin after promising performances in defeats to Australia (18-25) and Argentina (16-23).

Bortolami said: I am really looking forward to this tournament. After the November internationals in which we turned in some encouraging performances against Australia and Argentina, the squad is feeling confident.

Most of the physical and technical work is done now, and it is a question of focusing on our mental preparation more than anything.

Certainly we still need to improve things, but now we have a lot of faith in ourselves, and the most important thing is the fact we can be competitive for the whole 80 minutes in every game.

If we have a bit of luck on our side, I'm sure we can make some of the big teams sweat, like we did against Australia a few weeks ago.

Even though Italy impressed in the Six Nations last time round, they only managed to take one point from five games and Bortolami is realistic enough to know it will be difficult for them once again.

'I look back on the last tournament as Italy's best since they joined the Six Nations and I hope the next one will be even better for us, he added.

'As usual it will be hard for us. Every year we go into the Six Nations tournament as underdogs, but I have a positive feeling about this year.

Things were great in the last tournament after we showed good organisation and finished close on the scoreboard in each game.

But Bortolami is no longer happy to merely compete in games and wants to be recording victories, with the away trip to struggling England - who parted company with coach Andy Robinson on Wednesday - already a target.

Now it is the time to win a few games and personally I'm looking forward to playing against England at Twickenham, he said.

Despite that, the Azzurri skipper also believes that the English could be the surprise package in a crowded race for Six Nations glory.

'France and Ireland have to be the two favourites for this years tournament, he said.

But we can't forget England, they are a bit out of form at present, but don't forget they are the World Champions, and they also have in their ranks a few great individual players.

Those three teams are well balanced and have no real weaknesses. Then there is Wales. They are coming from some bad form last year and lack results, but they still have some very good players and they contested a great second half against Australia this month.

The Scottish havent shone in this Novembers Test matches, but they were outstanding in the last Six Nations.