Italy coach Brad Johnstone today named his 24-man squad for the Six Nations tournament match with Ireland in Dublin on March 23rd.
Three players, who missed the 44-20 defeat by Wales in Cardiff because of injury, return to the fold. They are, fly-half Diego Dominguez, full-back Paolo Vaccari and winger Denis Dallan.
Johnstone had announced at the weekend that he would not be selecting 19-year-old centre Mirco Bergamasco because he wanted him to available for Italy's World Cup squad for that age group.
That could mean Vaccari will move to centre while South African-born Gert Peens, who made an impressive debut in Cardiff, may keep his position at full-back.
But although Ramiro Pez impressed at stand-off against Wales he is likely to make way for Dominguez, who like Pez was born in Argentina.
Matthew Phillips, born in New Zealand, has been relegated to A team duty, a move which will please the Italian press who have voiced their displeasure as Phillips has no intention of becoming an Italian citizen.
Veteran forward Carlo Checchinato, with a world record number of tries for a forward in international rugby, will take over at number eight with Santiago Dellape and Mark Giacheri the likely lock forwards.
There will be a change of routine for Italy who instead of preparing for the Ireland match at their usual Tirrenia base near Pisa are moving to Frascati before flying to Dublin on Thursday.
Squad:
Forwards
Mauro Bergamasco, Carlo Checchinato, Salvatore Garozzo, Alessandro Moscardi (capt) (all Treviso), Santiago Dellape, Aaron Persico (both Viadana), Giampiero De Carli, Andrea De Rossi (both Calvisano), Marco Bortolami, Andrea Muraro (both Padova), Mark Giacheri (Sale/Eng), Salvatore Perugini (L'Aquila), Federico Pucciarello (Gloucester/Eng)
Backs
Denis Dallan (Treviso), Roberto Pedrazzi (Viadana), Paolo Vaccari, Cristian Zanoletti (both Calvisano), Diego Dominguez (Stade Francais/Fra), Gert Peens (Piacenza), Ramiro Pez (Rotherham/Eng), Juan Manuel Queirolo (Dax/Fra), Giovanni Raineri (Roma), Cristian Stoica (Castres/Fra), Alessandro Troncon (Montferrand/Fra)