Garcia attempts to shackle South Africa's Bryan Habana during their clash last year © Getty Images

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Matches: England 36 - 11 Italy

Players/Officials: Gonzalo Garcia | Nick Mallett

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: Italy

Italy centre Gonzalo Garcia admits it is a dream to be making his Six Nations debut against England on Saturday.

Coach Nick Mallett will be fielding a makeshift team in the tournament opener, with Pablo Canavosio, Simon Piccone and Pietro Travagli all injured.

The shortage in personnel means that Martin Castrogiovanni returns to the side after a year-long absence through injury, flanker Mauro Bergamasco moves to scrum-half while uncapped Venezia player Jean-Francois Montauriol has been handed a place on the bench.

Garcia is set to make his tournament debut on Saturday and the Argentina-born player is preparing to enjoy every second. "It's very emotional to be playing in the Six Nations," he said. "I never thought I'd find myself here. I hope to play my best rugby in a game which, for me, will always remain unforgettable whatever happens."

Mallet is also taking a gamble by including Castrogiovanni against a team Italy have never beaten. The Leicester prop was Italy's top try-scorer in last year's Six Nations, but has only just returned to club action after a year on the sidelines and he admits he is not fully ready yet.

"I was out of action for almost eight months," he said. "I have only recently returned to the pitch and in a position, that of left prop, which is not my natural one. Of course I'm not in the best possible condition, but I'll give my all from the first minute until I'm substituted."

Bergamasco's enforced switch to scrum-half is the news that has most concerned Italy fans and the Stade Francais flanker admits he too is worried about stepping into the number nine role.

"I'm more worried than excited," he said. "Obviously that's because there's the need for a good performance on my part, in order not to punish the work of my team-mates. But I accepted the challenge. I've already been training since last week in this new role. We've been working very hard also on communication between me and the number 10."

Mallet has already insisted that he will shoulder any blame should his decision prove the wrong one. However, one person who thinks Bergamasco will flourish in his new role is international team-mate Alessio Galante, who missed out on inclusion in this year's Six Nations squad.

"The major new feature is Mauro Bergamasco at scrum-half and I think he will astound everyone," he told Varese News. "Mauro is an extraordinary and complete player, who can do well in every role. Of course he could be affected by a bit of inexperience in this position but I am convinced he will do very well."