Ange Capuozzo and Paolo Garbisi will make their Italy returns against Australia after missing out on summer action, with the pair selected on Thursday for the Azzurri's clash with the Wallabies this weekend.
Toulouse back Capuozzo suffered a broken fibula in June, costing him the summer tour of South Africa, where Italy lost twice to the Springboks.
Toulon playmaker Garbisi also missed that tour but will start at fly-half on Saturday in Udine, where he will be joined in the halves by Exeter Chiefs' Stephen Varney.
Flanker Michele Lamaro, who usually captains Italy, misses out on the match at the Bluenergy Stadium after picking up a thigh injury in training.
Italy's rugby federation (FIR) did not say for how long Lamaro would be out of action, with the visit of world champions South Africa coming up in Turin on 15 November.
The FIR said Lamaro would be returning to his club Benetton Treviso where the 27-year-old will follow a "recovery plan which aims to get him back in action as soon as possible".
The captain's armband has been given to Juan Ignacio Brex, who lines up in the centre alongside Tommasso Menoncello.
La formazione scelta dal C.T. Gonzalo #Quesada in vista del primo match delle @QuilterNations contro l'Australia 👇#ITAvAUS 🇮🇹🇦🇺
— Italrugby (@Federugby) November 6, 2025
📆 Sabato 8 Novembre
⏰ 18:40
🏟 Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
📺 @SkySport 1 ▪ @RaiSport ▪ @NOWTV_It ▪ @RaiPlay
🎟 @TicketOneIT #QNS | #QuilterNS pic.twitter.com/DouMrKl3Gk
ITALY TEAM (15-1)
Ange Capuozzo; Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex (capt), Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Lorenzo Cannone, Manuel Zuliani, Ross Vintcent; Andrea Zambonin, Niccolo Cannone; Simone Ferrari, Giacomo Nicotera, Danilo Fischetti
Replacements:
Tommaso DI Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, Alessandro Izekor, Martin Page-Relo, Tommaso Allan, Leonardo Marin
Coach: Gonzalo Quesada