Italy coach Nick Mallett has revamped his front row ahead of Saturday's rugby Test against an Argentina side famous for its powerful pack and destructive scrum.

Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini, who captained the team during its summer tour to South Africa and Argentina, and loose-head prop Salvatore Perugini make way for the Saracens pair of Fabio Ongaro and Matias Aguero.

Mallett made a similar swap early in the second half of Italy's 30-20 loss to Australia when the front row was struggling to impose their superiority in the scrum.

It was a move that paid off and allowed Italy to work their way back into the match to the extent that with 10 minutes to go and the scores tied at 20-20, they appeared the team most likely to win.

But with a front row including the fearsome Mario Ledesma and Rodrigo Roncero, Mallett clearly realises that he will need his front row to gain the upper hand from the first scrum engagement and means Ongaro is the only starting front row player who was not born in Argentina.

Mallett's other change is in the three-quarters where Matteo Pratichetti replaces the injured Gonzalo Canale, and lines up alongside his Calvisano centre partner Gonzalo Garcia.

As Mallett promised Andrea Marcato continues at fly-half and will hope to improve on his tally of nine points from the test with Australia. Once again he is partnered by Pablo Canavosio, one of six Argentina-born players in Italy's 22-man squad.

The selection of three front-row players on the bench shows that Mallett is expecting a bruising encounter in the engine room. Alongside Ghiraldini and Perugini sits a second prop, the veteran Sicilian Andrea Lo Cicero.

Team: Andrea Masi, Kaine Robertson, Matteo Pratichetti, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco, Andrea Marcato, Pablo Canavosio, Sergio Parisee (capt), Mauro Bergamasco, Josh Sole, Marco Bortolami, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Carlos Nieto, Fabio Ongaro, Matias Aguero. Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero, Salvatore Perugini, Tommaso Reato, Pietro Travagli, Luciano Orquera, Luke McLean

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