Luca Morisi is set for a first Test appearance in three years after being recalled by Italy ahead of the fourth round of the NatWest 6 Nations.
The Benetton centre has not featured for his country since 2015, having suffered a succession of knee injuries, but is now fit again.
And he is one of four new faces in the Italy squad as they seek a first win of the campaign away in Wales in Round Four.
He is joined by Gloucester flanker Jake Polledri, Zebre scrum-half Guglielmo Palazzani and Benetton prop Federico Zani in being called up by Conor O’Shea.
The Irish head coach said: “We can’t wait for the last two rounds of the NatWest 6 Nations and we will continue to prepare with the objective of not only being competitive, but of winning. There are lots of things that have improved but there are lots of others that we need to and will improve.
“Like every international team, at this point in the Championship, we have some new injuries that have been added to the list of long-term absentees, with (Edoardo) Gori who has a quad issue, (Renato) Giammarioli who needs an operation on his back, (Edoardo) Padovani who is still struggling with his ankle and (Tito) Tebaldi, who was unavailable as well.
“I am pleased to have Luca Morisi back in the national team after a long absence, Guglielmo Palazzani, Federico Zani and Jake Polledri, I’m sure will, for different reasons, all will bring a different energy to the squad.” Props Dario CHISTOLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 20 caps) Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps) Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 23 caps) Tiziano PASQUALI (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps) Nicola QUAGLIO (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps) Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps) Hookers Luca BIGI (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps) Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Stade Toulousain, 92 caps) Oliviero FABIANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 4 caps) Locks George Fabio BIAGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 21 caps) Dean BUDD (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps) Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps) Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Rugby, 102 caps) Back row Giovanni LICATA (Fiamme Oro Rugby, 3 caps) Maxime Mata MBANDA’ (Zebre Rugby Club, 14 caps) Sebastian NEGRI DA OLEGGIO (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps) Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 132 caps) – capitano Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester Rugby, esordiente) Abraham STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps) Scrum-halves Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 22 caps) Marcello VIOLI (Zebre Rugby Club, 11 caps) Fly-halves Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 36 caps) Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby Club, 27 caps) Ian MCKINLEY (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps) Three-quarters Mattia BELLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 11 caps) Tommaso BENVENUTI (Benetton Rugby, 48 caps) Giulio BISEGNI (Zebre Rugby Club, 7 caps) Tommaso BONI (Zebre Rugby Club, 11 caps) Tommaso CASTELLO (Zebre Rugby Club, 8 caps) Jayden HAYWARD (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps) Matteo MINOZZI (Zebre Rugby Club, 6 caps) Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
