Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero is back in the Italy squad for the first time in almost a year after being selected for Wednesday's friendly match against Ireland.
There was no place for Roma forward Antonio Cassano whose troubled relationship with his club during the close season appears to have caused Marcelo Lippi to leave him out of the travelling party for the game in Dublin.
Del Piero's last appearance for Italy came in September last year when he scored in the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win away to Moldova.
Injuries and a loss of form kept Del Piero out of Lippi's side subsequently but he ended last season well for Italian champions Juventus and has looked sharp in pre-season.
Del Piero is by no means guaranteed a starting place, however.
Lippi has included Roma's Francsco Totti and Milan pair Christian Vieri and Alberto Gilardino while Fiorentina forward Luca Toni and Udinese target man Vincenzo Iaquinta are also hoping for a place in the front line.
The Italy coach has rated Cassano as one of his brightest hopes for next year's World Cup finals in Germany should Italy, as expected, qualify.
But the Bari-born forward is reported to be unsettled at Roma and has had a tense pre-season with club officials trying to persuade him to extend his deal in the capital.
Cassano has just one year left on his contract and has been linked with a move to Juventus after he failed to agree terms with Roma.
A surprise inclusion in Lippi's squad is Reggina midfielder Giandomenico Mesto who impressed during June friendly games against Serbia & Montenegro and Ecuador.
Italian squad for Wednesday's match with Ireland:
Goalkeepers: G Buffon (Juventus), M De Sanctis (Udinese), F Roma (Monaco).
Defenders: A Barzagli (Palermo), F Cannavaro (Juventus), F Grosso (Palermo), M Materazzi (Inter Milan), A Nesta (AC Milan), C Zaccardo (Palermo), G Zambrotta (Juventus).
Midfielders: S Barone (Palermo), M Camoranesi (Juventus), D De Rossi (AS Roma), A Diana (Sampdoria), G Gattuso (AC Milan), G Mesto (Reggina), A Pirlo (AC Milan).
Forwards: A Del Piero (Juventus), A Gilardino (AC Milan), V Iaquinta (Udinese), L Toni (Fiorentina), F Totti (AS Roma), C Vieri (AC Milan).
