Ireland take on Italy in Parma on Saturday afternoon (4.45pm) in the third round of the TikTok Women's Six Nations looking for a first win of the campaign.
Sobering defeats to Wales and France have sent Greg McWilliams’ team into a battle to avoid the wooden spoon.
Next week’s game against England is a foregone conclusion so this match-up with the Azzurre and the final day showdown against Scotland are the realistic targets.
TV
The game is live on Virgin Media Two.
RADIO
Live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
ONLINE
Follow live updates on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
WEATHER
Parma is set for sunny conditions with the temperature around 17C in a gentle breeze.
The sides meet off the back of two losses each in the competition so far.
Italy fell to a 22-12 defeat to France on the opening day before a 68-5 hammering at the hands of England.
France, who beat Ireland 53-3 two weeks ago, needed a late try to see off an impressive Italy outfit.
The Irish showed glimpses of good handling and running angles in their loss at Musgrave Park but the stat of 43 missed tackles stands out.
Defence will have to be the bedrock of this performance if they are to have a chance of upsetting the odds. The hosts start as 12-point favourites.
Ireland's recent record against Italy is good, winning the last four games, including a RWC qualifier in Parma in 2021.
A look back at the scorers from the last three matches, however, shows a heavy reliance on players currently missing out through either injury or selection calls.
Of the 10 scorers (tries and kicks), just Dorothy Wall and Neve Jones are in the match-day squad.
The Sevens players, who are next on duty in four weeks’ time, are again not considered as McWilliams decides to stick with his young guns.
He has, however, made three changes to the team that lost in Musgrave Park with full-back Lauren Delany, centre Anna McGann and scrum-half Ailsa Hughes all starting.
Dannah O’Brien continues at out-half and wins her fifth cap.
The pack remains unchanged with Nichola Fryday captaining the side.
Italy head coach Giovanni Raineri is missing captain and scrum-half Elisa Giordano so brings in Sofia Stefan, who started against England on the wing, at 9.
Full-back Beatrice Capomaggi and wing Alyssa D’Inca are also drafted in. Giada Franco switches from 7 to 8, while Isabella Locatelli starts at openside.
Italy: Beatrice Capomaggi; Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Beatrice Rigoni, Alyssa D'Inca; Veronica Madia, Sofia Stefan (capt); Gaia Maris, Vittoria Vecchini, Lucia Gai; Sara Tounesi, Giordana Duca; Francesca Sgorbini, Isabella Locatelli, Giada Franco.
Replacements: Emanuela Stecca, Alice Cassaghi, Sara Seye, Valeria Fedrighi, Laura Gurioli, Alissa Ranuccini, Sara Barattin, Emma Stevanin.
Ireland: Lauren Delany; Aoife Doyle, Aoife Dalton, Anna McGann, Natasja Behan; Dannah O'Brien, Ailsa Hughes; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney; Nichola Fryday (capt), Sam Monaghan; Dorothy Wall, Grace Moore, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird.
Replacements: Clara Nielson, Sadhbh McGrath, Kathryn Buggy, Hannah O'Connor, Brittany Hogan, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Vicky Irwin, Méabh Deely.
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Maria Latos (GER), Mary Pringle (SRU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Giovanni Raineri (Italy head coach): "We come into our next game with a better understanding of our strengths and with the objective of making up for the start of the Six Nations, which in terms of results has not been the best."
Greg McWilliams (Ireland head coach): "Our game plan is evolving, our philosophy and how we are trying to play the game is constantly evolving, we have players that are showing good signs in training and their execution rate is really good and they deserve their chance."
Last five meetings
2022: Ireland 29-8 Italy, Musgrave Park
2021: Italy 7-15 Ireland, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi (RWC qualifier)
2021: Ireland 25-5 Italy, Energia Park
2020: Ireland 21-7 Italy, Energia Park
2019: Italy 29-27 Ireland, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Wales host England at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday (2.15pm, live on RTÉ Player), while France play Scotland at 3.15pm.
