(ANSA) - Udine, November 20 - Italy captain Sergio Parisse is braced for a torrid first 20 minutes against world champions South Africa Saturday.

"The first 20 minutes will be the toughest our team has ever played at international level," the No.8 told a press conference Friday.

Parisse said Italy expected the Springbok pack to launch a massive attack in the hunt for South Africa's first win in its autumn tour.

"But we showed what we're made of against New Zealand and we're ready to tackle them," said Parisse, who was outstanding in Italy's 20-6 defeat to the All Blacks last week.

Springboks captain John Smit told the press: "We're going to try to improve after three defeats on the trot".

"Italy is a worthy opponent so we'll have to give it our all".

Italy coach Nick Mallett is hoping for another strong performance to boost the Azzurri ahead of the Six Nations after Italy's worst display in last year's tournament.

The ex-South Africa coach said at the beginning of the three autumn tests that he did not expect Italy to beat New Zealand or South Africa but was hoping for a win from the final game against Samoa next week. Mallett has made five changes to the team that gave the All Blacks a run for their money in front of a capacity 80,000 crowd at San Siro.

Matteo Pratichetti comes in for Kaine Robertson on the wing while Alberto Sgarbi gets his first cap in the centre after four appearances as winger.

Simon Picone is picked as scrum-half.

Simone Favaro replaces flanker Mauro Bergamasco and hooker Fabio Ongaro gets his first start in a year.

South African-born locks Quintin Geldenhuys and Carlo Del Fava have a chance to show their mettle against one of the world champions' most formidable units.

South Africa is seeking its first win in its autumn tour after defeats to Leicester (22-17), France (20-13) and Saracens (24-23).

Coach Peter de Villiers has made three changes from the team that lost to France, two of them enforced.

Hooker Adrian Strauss replaces injured Bismarck du Plessis while flanker Danie Rossouw comes in for the inured Schalk Burger.

Prop Wian du Preez earns his first cap.

There are two uncapped players on the bench, flanker Jean Deysel and scrum half Francois Hougaard.

Here is the Italy team: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Matteo Pratichetti, 13 Alberto Sgarbi, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Simon Picone, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Simone Favaro, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Ignacio Rouyet, 18 Antonio Pavanello, 19 Josh Sole, 20 Mauro Bergamansco, 21 Tito Tebaldi, 22 Gonzalo Canale.

South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Adi Jacobs, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.

Replacements: 16 Tendai Mtawarira, 17 BJ Botha, 18 Victor Matfield, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Wynand Olivier.