Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has dropped Andrea Lo Cicero in favour of Fabio Ongaro in his team for the Six Nations opener against Ireland.
With fullback Ezio Galon and centres Andrea Masi and Denis Dallan unavailable through injury Berbizier has been forced to reshuffle his backline.
The most notable change is the reappearance of Christian Stoica at fullback after several seasons in the centres.
As one of Italy's most experienced players with 64 caps, Stoica will be expected to steady a relatively inexperienced Italy side who have an average age of just 24.
Winger Pablo Canavosio has been awarded his first starting place in international competition after three previous appearances as a substitute.
Canavosio's presence on the wing has forced Mirco Bergamasco to move into the inside centre position next to Gonzalo Canale. Berbizier opted to stick with the halfback partnership of Ramiro Pez and Paul Griffen that worked well during the November tests.
Italy's pack is closer to the lineup Berbizier has used since he took over from John Kirwan last April, although flanker Josh Sole has been given his Six Nations debut alongside the more experienced Sergio Parisse and Mauro Bergamasco.
Prop Salvatore Perugini takes the place of Lo Cicero, who has recently come back from injury.
The Azzurri are trying to avoid a repeat of last year's disappointing campaign, which ended in five straight defeats and
their first wooden spoon since 2002.
Italy (v Ireland): Cristian Stoica (Montpellier); Pablo Canavosio (Ghial Calvisano), Gonzalo Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Ludovico Nitoglia (Ghial Calvisano); Ramiro Pez (Perpignan), Paul Griffen; Salvatore Perugini (both Ghial Calvisano), Fabio Ongaro (Benetton Treviso), Carlos Nieto (Arix Viadana), Santiago Dellape (Agen), Marco Bortolami (Narbonne, captain), Josh Sole (Arix Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco, Sergio Parisse (both Stade Francais).
Replacements: Carlo Antonio Festuccia (SKG Gran Parma), Andrea Lo Cicero (Conad L'Aquila), Martin Castrogiovanni (Ghial Calvisano), Carlos Del Fava (Bourgoin), Aaron Persico (Agen), Simon Picone (Benetton Treviso), Rima Wakarua (SKG Gran Parma).
