Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni will make his comeback from a knee injury in Saturday's World Cup warm-up game with Japan.

The Leicester forward (pictured) has been out for nearly six months but will play at Saint Vincent alongside captain Marco Bortolami, who has shrugged off a knock.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has named Ramiro Pez starts at fly-half, where he will partner veteran scrum-half Alessandro Troncon.

Berbizier's side play Ireland in another friendly match on August 24 before starting their World Cup campaign against Pool C rivals New Zealand on September 8.

Team: 15-David Bortolussi; 14-Kaine Robertson, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Mirco Bergamasco, 11-Marko Stanojevic; 10-Ramiro Pez, 9-Alessandro Troncon; 8-Sergio Parisse, 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 5-Marco Bortolami (capt), 4-Santiago Dellape, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 2-Carlo Festuccia, 1-Andrea Lo Cicero.

Replacements: 16-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17-Salvatore Perugini, 18-Valerio Bernabo, 19-Manoa Vosawai, 20-Pablo Canavosio, 21-Roland De Marigny, 22-Andrea Masi.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport