Ex-captain Marco Bortolami returns against France on Sunday as one of the four changes Italy coach Nick Mallett has made from the squad that lost heavily to Wales on February 23.
Replacing injured lock Santiago Dellape, the fit-again Bortolami will get his first start since last September's World Cup game against Portugal.
In the other changes, winger Kaine Robertson returns from injury to push out Alberto Sgarbi, veteran prop Andrea Lo Cicero replaces Salvatore Perugini and Alessandro Zanni comes in for suspended flanker Mauro Bergamasco.
Open-side flanker Zanni's height will be precious in the line-out, Mallett said. At 1.9m (6ft 2), Zanni stands head to head with back-row regulars Josh Sole and Sergio Parisse, the captain.
Mallett said he was banking on the trio winning more quality line-out ball than in Italy's defeats to Ireland (16-11), England (23-19) and Wales (47-8). Lo Cicero will earn his 75th cap, overtaking Italy legend Diego Dominguez in third spot in the all-time standings. Unveiling the squad, Mallett accused officials of missing incidents that allegedly provoked Bergamasco into poking Wales fullback Lee Byrne in the eye.
He said he was hoping for better refereeing in Paris on Sunday (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Mallett said Bergamasco, who has been banned for 13 weeks, would be badly missed against the flair-filled French because he was ''the only back-row player capable of tackling the three quarters''.
But his side was confident of improving after the three straight defeats, he said.
''We made a lot of mistakes against Wales. They put us under lots of pressure but we've looked at the videos to be able to play better and the players are anxious to make up for what happened.'' Earlier, France coach Marc Lievremont named three uncapped players in his starting line-up: 19-year-old centre Yann David, prop Fabien Barcella and flanker Ibrahim Diarra.
Lievremont also handed a first start to fullback Anthony Floch, who won his first cap as a late replacement in France's 24-13 defeat to England on Feb. 23.
Centre Yannick Jauzion returns after missing the first three games of the championship because of a hand injury.
Only five players who started the England game will start against Italy. With two wins and a defeat, holders France are currently third on four points along with Ireland and England.
Wales lead the way on six while Italy and Scotland are still to get off the mark.
Italy team: 15-Andrea Marcato, 14-Kaine Robertson, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Mirco Bergamasco, 11-Ezio Galon, 10-Andrea Masi, 9-Simon Picone, 8-Sergio Parisse (captain), 7-Alessandro Zanni, 6-Josh Sole, 5-Marco Bortolami, 4-Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1-Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16-Fabio Ongaro, 17-Carlos Nieto, 18-Salvatore Perugini, 19-Jacobus Erasmus, 20-Pietro Travagli, 21-Enrico Patrizio, 22-Alberto Sgarbi.
France team: 15-Anthony Floch, 14-Aurelien Rougerie, 13-Yannick Jauzion, 12-Yann David, 11-Julien Malzieu, 10-Francis Trinh-Duc, 9-Dimitri Yachvili, 8-Louis Picamoles, 7-Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6-Ibrahim Diarra, 5-Jerome Thion, 4-Lionel Nallet (captain), 3-Nicolas Mas, 2-Dimitri Szarzewski, 1-Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16-Guilhem Guirado, 17-Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18-Arnaud Mela, 19-Julien Bonnaire, 20-Julien Tomas, 21-Damien Traille, 22-Vincent Clerc.
