Italy coach Nick Mallett has gone for Luciano Orquera at fly-half, rather than Riccardo Bocchino, for his side’s World Cup Pool C game against the USA on Tuesday.
The Italians need a win from the game against Eddie O’Sullivan’s Eagles to give themselves a chance of making the last eight, with Mallett making nine changes from the side that put 53 points past Russia last week.
Fabio Semenzato comes in at scrum-half, with Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco, Alessandro Zanni, Cornelius van Zyl, Martin Castrogiovanni and Leonardo Ghiraldini all also making the team for the game at Trafalgar Park in Nelson.
The USA, meanwhile, have reverted to full-strength as they go in search of some unlikely points to add to their win over Russia.
Eddie O’Sullivan made 14 changes for the game against Australia last Friday and he has done the same again after that 67-5 loss.
Saracens lock Hayden Smith is the only man to keep his place, with regular captain Todd Clever, Paul Emerick, Chris Wyles, Takudzwa Ngwenya and Mike MacDonald among those to come back in.
Italy: Andrea Masi; Tommaso Benvenuti, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco; Luciano Orquera, Fabio Semenzato; Salvatore Perugini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Martin Castrogiovanni; Quintin Geldenhuys, Cornelius van Zyl; Alessandro Zanni, Mauro Bergamasco, Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: Fabio Ongaro, Andrea Lo Cicero, Marco Bortolami, Paul Derbyshire, Edoardo Gori, Riccardo Bocchino, Luke McLean.
USA: Chris Wyles; Takudzwa Ngwenya, Paul Emerick, Andrew Suniula, James Paterson; Roland Suniula, Mike Petri; Mike MacDonald, Chris Biller, Matekitonga Moeakiola; John van der Giessen, Hayden Smith; Louis Stanfill, Todd Clever (capt), Nic Johnson.
Replacements: Phil Thiel, Shawn Pittman, Scott LaValla, Pat Danahy, Tim Usasz, Nese Malifa, Blaine Scully.