Italy are bidding to end a long run of dire form in the upcoming November tests and give themselves a much-needed shot in the arm ahead of the 2015 Six Nations and next year's World Cup.
Jacques Brunel's men have lost 13 of their last 14 games.
Their last win was against Fiji during 2013 autumn tests, nine matches ago.
In the meantime they endured some big spankings in the 2013 Six Nations, including a 52-11 home defeat to England, and a 26-23 defeat to Japan in June that contributed to them dropping to 14th in the international rankings.
But getting back to winning ways will not be easy, as Italy have tough encounters in store, starting with Saturday's clash with Samoa in Ascoli Piceno.
That will be followed by a showdown with Argentina in Genoa on November 15 and then, toughest of all, a match against twice world champions South Africa in Padua on November 22. Frenchman Brunel said Thursday that he was hopeful his side would be more competitive thanks to the return of captain Sergio Parisse, who was rested for the June tests, and other regulars such as flankers Alessandro Zanni and Simone Favaro and centre Luca Morisi. "We are confident that the return of these athletes can contribute to improving our confidence and the group's desire right from this Saturday against Samoa," Brunel told a press conference.
"They are a team who this summer made things difficult for us, especially when it came to winning the ball," he added, referring to a 15-0 defeat to the Samoans in June.
"We are confident we have resolved these problems with the work done in training.
"The scrum had trouble against Samoa during the (June) tour, but I'm convinced that was a one-off. "Last season we had more serious problems, linked to the lack of balance between attack and defence. "We took a step back in defence and that's why we've been concentrating on this over the last few days.
"We have to start from there to get back to the level we reached in 2013". Italy equalled their best-ever Six Nations campaign in 2013 when they won two matches, against France and Ireland.
Brunel sprang a surprise in his starting lineup for Saturday's match by naming Kelly Haimona, an uncapped New Zealand-born player who is a pro with Italian franchise Zebre, at flyhalf.
He also named Dario Chistolini, who won the first of his two caps against Samoa in June, at tight-head prop. The Azzurri's usual tight-head, Martin Castrogiovanni, is suspended for Saturday's game. The rest of the side has a more familiar look to it. Samoa have won five of the previous six games between the teams, with the Azzurri's only victory, a 24-6 triumph, taking place in 2009 in Ascoli. Italy team: Andrea Masi (London Wasps, 84 caps), Luke McLean (Sale Sharks, 60 caps), Michele Campagnaro (Benetton Treviso, 9 caps), Luca Morisi (Benetton Treviso, 6 caps), Leonardo Sarto (Zebre Rugby, 7 caps), Kelly Haimona (Zebre Rugby), Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso, 34 caps); Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais, 105 caps, captain), Simone Favaro (Benetton Treviso, 21 caps), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso, 83 caps), Joshua Furno (Newcastle Falcons, 20 caps), Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre Rugby, 49 caps), Dario Chistolini (Zebre Rugby, 2 caps), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers, 67 caps), Matias Aguero (Zebre Rugby, 26 caps).
Replacements: Andrea Manici (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps), Alberto De Marchi (Sale Sharks, 20 caps), Lorenzo Cittadini (London Wasps, 35 caps), Marco Bortolami (Zebre Rugby, 107 caps), Robert Barbieri (Leicester Tigers, 37 caps), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps), Luciano Orquera (Zebre Rugby, 44 caps), Giulio Toniolatti (Zebre Rugby, 12 caps).
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