Italy coach Nick Mallett has urged his players to go out and win Saturday's Test against Samoa for injured captain Sergio Parisse.

The Azzurri will be without Parisse, who sustained a serious right knee injury on Thursday and will be sidelined for at least four months.

"I think the injury of Parisse represents an extra motivation for my team to do well against Samoa," said Mallett.

"When Sergio got injured and he remained on the floor,

we immediately understood the seriousness of the situation and right away I made some changes to the squad.

"I have a lot of confidence in Alessandro Zanni as number eight and in Leonardo Ghiraldini who will lead the team as captain with Parisse out."

Mallett is desperate to win the match at Ascoli Piceno and end a 13-game run of defeats.

The Azzurri's last victory came in June 2008 when they edged Argentina 13-12.

Mallett has made six changes to the team which lost 32-10 to South Africa last weekend, with flanker Mauro Bergamasco, centre Gonzalo Canale, scrum-half Tito Tebaldi and wing Kaine Robertson all returning to the starting line-up.

Ghiraldini is confident his team will overcome Parisse's absence and return to winning ways on Saturday.

"We are all saddened for what has happened to Sergio and we cannot wait to see him return to play as soon as possible," he said.

"With regards to being captain, this extra responsibility will not condition my approach to the game but it will be an added motivation to do well.

"We are very concentrated for the game against Samoa.

"They are a much easier rival than New Zealand and South Africa but it still remains a very high-level match."

Ghiraldini believes the key to winning the game will be for his side to be aggressive from the start.

Having lost by four points to Wales two weeks ago, the Samoans were comprehensively beaten 43-5 by France in Paris at the weekend.

"France imposed their play from the start against Samoa and knew when to hit them," Ghiraldini said. "We will have to do the same thing.

"I believe that as a group we can do that."

Samoa will look to maintain their perfect record against Italy at Del Duca stadium.

Since first meeting at the 1995 World Cup, the Pacific islanders have won three times against the Azzurri.

Teams:

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini

Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Ignacio Rouyet, 18 Josh Sole, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Simon Piccone, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Alberto Sgarbi

Samoa: 15 Titi Esau, 14 Henry Fa'fili, 13 Gavin Williams, 12 Seilala Mapasua, 11 David Lemi, 10 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 9 Junior Polu, 8 Henry Tuilagi, 7 Ofisa Treviranus, 6 George Stowers (c), 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Filipo Levi, 3 Justin Va'a, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Census Johnson.

Replacements: 16 Andrew Williams, 17 Sakaria Taulafo, 18 Jonny Fa'amatuainu, 19 Misioka Tomoteo, 20 Semiperive Semeane, 21 Uale Mai, 22 Lucky Munipola.