Ulster’s Carlo Del Fava has been selected to start for Italy and will line up against his Ulster team mates for what is certain to be an exciting competitive clash.

Italy came close to snatching a victory from Ireland when the two sides last met at Ravenhill for a RWC friendly back in August- Eddie O’Sullivan later claiming that the Italian's consistent pressure throughout the fixture gave his side a real “torrid time”.  This time the visitors will be hoping to kick off the competition with their first victory over Ireland at home, while a convincing win for O’Sullivan’s men could finally put to bed the disappointment that came with their 2007 World Cup campaign.

New Azzurri coach Nick Mallett is fielding a fresh look Italian line up. Former skipper and lock Marco Bortolami will be missing due to injury with new Captain and number eight Sergio Parisse set to lead the team out. Andrea Masi, a former centre and now fly-half will start with scrum-half Pietro Travagli, who is set to earn his third cap for the side.

Meanwhile, O'Sullivan has been denied the services of injured lock Paul O'Connell and suspended hooker Jerry Flannery, but their replacements aside he has kept faith with the majority of his first-choice team from last autumn.Both sides produced some great performances throughout the 2007 Six Nations, with Ireland coming close to winning the competition and the Italians winning two games- the first time since their inclusion.

Speaking ahead of the fixture this week Ulster Captain Rory Best said, "Carlo's start for Italy is well deserved, he has been one of Ulster's leading forwards this season. It will be strange lining up opposite him instead of beside him but that is the beauty of international rugby and of getting top quality players into the Ulster squad."

Ireland: 15-Girvan Dempsey, 14-Andrew Trimble, 13-Brian O'Driscoll (capt), 12-Gordon D'Arcy, 11-Geordon Murphy, 10-Ronan O'Gara, 9-Eoin Reddan, 8-Denis Leamy, 7-David Wallace, 6-Simon Easterby, 5-Malcolm O'Kelly, 4-Donnacha O'Callaghan, 3-John Hayes, 2-Rory Best, 1-Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16-Bernard Jackman, 17-Tony Buckley, 18-MickO'Driscoll, 19-Jamie Heaslip, 20-Peter Stringer, 21-PaddyWallace, 22-Rob Kearney.

Italy: 15-David Bortolussi, 14-Kaine Robertson, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Mirco Bergamasco, 11-Pablo Canavosio, 10-Andrea Masi, 9-Pietro Travagli; 8-Sergio Parisse (captain), 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 6-Josh Sole, 5-Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4-Santiago Dellape, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1-Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16-Carlo Festuccia, 17-Salvatore Perugini, 18-Carlos Nieto, 19-Tommaso Reato, 20-Alessandro Zanni, 21-Andrea Marcato, 22-Ezio Galon.