Josh Sole has replaced the injured Sergio Parisse © Getty Images

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Matches: Italy 24 - 6 Samoa

Tournaments/Tours: Samoa tour

Teams: Italy | Samoa

Nick Mallett's Italy welcome Samoa to Ascoli on Saturday with both sides looking for their first win in an otherwise barren November campaign.

Italy succumbed to the Springboks in Udine last weekend as the Samoans failed to follow up a battling display against Wales, slipping to a heavy defeat against France at the Stade de France. Italy have not won for 13 Tests and will be desperate to pick up a victory - with wounds still fresh from the eating meted out by the Pacific Islanders at this time last season.

The former Springbok coach has named his strongest side for the game, with one notable and damaging injury loss. The superb Sergio Parisse had been slated to start at No.8 alongside the recalled Mauro Bergamasco and Alessandro Zanni but has been ruled out with a serious knee injury that is threatening his involvement in the Six Nations.

Zanni shifts to No.8, with Josh Sole starting at blindside. The real loss will be Parisse's creativity behind the scrum after some mercurial touches against the All Blacks. Tito Tebadi is back in at scrum-half after dropping to the bench last weekend and partners Craig Gower.

Gonzalo Garcia showed his class in the centre with a try against South Africa and he again starts, alongside Clermont Auvergne's Gonzalo Canale. Kaine Robertson is also handed a recall and slots on to the wing alongside Mirco Bergamasco and Luke McLean in the back three.

Their trump card as always comes in the front-row where Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Salvatore Perugini will be looking to put some pressure on a Samoan scrum that creaked at times against the French.

Cencus Johnston, Mahonri Schwalger and Justin Va'a continue up front for the Samoans, with Filipo Levi and Kane Thompson retained as the locks. Skipper George Stowers is fit to return in the back-row alongside Perpignan's Henry Tuilagi.

Gloucester's Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu starts at fly-half with the centre partnership of Seilala Mapusua and Gavin Williams restored. Wasps wing David Lemi is again in action out wide.

"I think the injury of Parisse represents an extra motivation for my team to do well against Samoa," said Mallett. "When Sergio got injured and he remained on the floor, we immediately understood the seriousness of the situation and right away I made some changes to the squad.

"I have a lot of confidence in Alessandro Zanni as number eight and in Leonardo Ghiraldini who will lead the team as captain with Parisse out."

Italy: Luke McLean; Kaine Robertson, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco; Craig Gower, Tito Tebaldi; Salvatore Perugini, Leonardo Ghiraldini (capt), Martin Castrogiovanni, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Quintin Geldenhuys, Josh Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, Alessandro Zanni

Replacements: Fabio Ongaro, Ignacio Rouyet, Antonio Pavanelli, Simone Favaro, 0 Simon Piccone, Riccardo Bocchino, Alberto Sgarbi

Samoa: Titi Esau; Henry Fa'fili, Gavin Williams, Seilala Mapasua, David Lemi; Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Junior Polu; , Census Johnson, Mahonri Schwalger, Justin Va'a, Filipo Levi, Kane Thompson, George Stowers (capt), Ofisa Treviranus, Henry Tuilagi

Replacements: Andrew Williams, Sakaria Taulafo, Jonny Fa'amatuainu, Misioka Tomoteo, 0 Semiperive Semeane, Uale Mai, Lucky Munipola.