British and Irish Lions

Montpellier full-back Cristian Stoica returns to the side, replacing Ezio Galon after last weekend's 18-18 draw with Wales in Cardiff, while Martin Castrogiovanni takes over from injured prop Carlos Nieto and hooker Fabio Ongaro is preferred to Carlo Festuccia.

Italy will avoid finishing bottom and enduring another wooden spoon campaign if they beat Scotland and defending Six Nations champions Wales lose at home to title favourites France.

Italy team to play Scotland on Saturday:

C Stoica (Montpellier); P Canavosio (Calvisano), G Canale (Clermont Auvergne), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), L Nitoglia (Calvisano); R Pez (Perpignan), P Griffen (Calvisano); S Perugini (Calvisano), F Ongaro (Benetton Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), S Dellape (Agen), M Bortolami (Narbonne, capt), S Parisse (Stade Francais), M Zaffiri (Calvisano), J Sole (Viadana).

Replacements: C Festuccia (Gran Parma), A Lo Cicero (L'Aquila), C Del Fava (Bourgoin), A Zanni (Calvisano), S Picone (Benetton Treviso), R Wakarua (Gran Parma), E Galon (Overmach Parma).

The Waratahs upset the odds by beating Super Rugby leaders the Brumbies 28-22, but the game came at a huge cost to Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.