New Wallabies benchman Pat McCabe has been quarantined from his team-mates on the eve of the Test against Italy in Florence after suffering a stomach bug.

McCabe is still expected to make his debut on Saturday (0100 Sunday AEDT) but medical staff kept him well clear of Australia's final training run at the home ground of Italian soccer club Fiorentina.

The Brumbies back has taken Lachie Turner's place among the reserves, with Turner replacing James O'Connor who returned home on compassionate leave.

"They're pretty confident Pat's going to be able to play, it's just probably better he didn't run around today if he wasn't feeling well," captain Rocky Elsom said.

Reserve halfback Will Genia got through the session and looks set to take his place after suffering a rib injury against England last weekend.

The Wallabies are under pressure to end a two-match losing streak and are likely to encounter conditions which will suit the Azzurri, with rain falling in the Renaissance city over the past two days.

The Stadio Artemio Franchi pitch is also considerably narrower than those the Australians are used to, another factor which could restrict their attacking game.

"I wouldn't say the field itself necessarily lends itself to that because it's pretty firm," Elsom said.

"If it was nice and boggy and muddy that's a different story.

"It was reasonably wet and reasonably small but I think it's probably a fair step up from Limerick so the boys will be happy to get out there.

"We'll keep the ball tight as long as it serves us and we'll shift it wide when that serves us too.

"It's a little bit misguided to go into matches with heavily preconceived ideas about the way the game's going to go.

"We do know they have a good pack and they have a lot of faith in their pack so we can expect that they intend to use that."

The Australian selectors made sweeping changes to the side following the 35-18 loss at Twickenham, benching Matt Giteau, Benn Robinson and Genia and handing run-on debuts to prop James Slipper and lock Rob Simmons.

Italy halfback Edoardo Gori will make his debut and the Australians admit they have no video footage of the rookie No.9, who has been plucked from obscurity.

Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore is considered the squad's expert on European soccer, but Elsom admitted they had not been brushing up on their knowledge of ACF Fiorentina.

"Not that we don't support them," he said.

The club won the second of their two Serie A titles in 1968-69.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP