Kirwan - issued warning to Wales. (Getty Images)

By Alex Lowe, PA Sport, Canberra

Italy may be struggling in the face of a horror World Cup draw and debilitating injury toll, but coach John Kirwan on Thursday warned Wales that his side respond best in adversity.

The Azzurri are in desperate straits, with at least three key players battling to be fit for Saturday's crucial World Cup showdown with Wales, and two others definitely out.

Centre Andrea Masi (hip) and influential captain Alessandro Troncon (shoulder) were both named today in a provisional squad to face Wales although they are not certain to start the game.

Manuel Dallan was not included, indicating his knee problem will not heal in time, while Marco Bortolami and Mirco Bergamasco suffered tournament-ending injuries in Tuesday's bruising victory over Canada.

It is a frustrating situation for Kirwan, who was forced to submit a 22-man squad to the World Cup organisers today - even though he has not yet had a chance to fully assess the extent of his damaged bodies.

The tournament rules, which state a coach must name a team 48 hours before kick-off, also allow him to bracket players under an injury cloud.

Such is Italy's misfortune that Kirwan was expecting to submit almost his entire squad to the World Cup officials.

"It is serious. We have got Troncon, Manuel Dallan and Masi who I have to bracket - I won't be sending off all 30 names but I will be sending off 26 or 27 players," said Kirwan today.

"I have spoken to them (World Cup officials) and explained the situation. They understand and have said what they want to make sure is that tomorrow we are definite.

"We have been told we can change the team without any penalties."

The winner of Saturday's game will, almost certainly, join New Zealand in the last eight of the World Cup, which would be unchartered territory for the Italians.

But Kirwan, in stark contrast to his opposite number Steve Hansen who has had all week to prepare but gives the impression of a man feeling the pressure, has instilled a sense of fun into the Italian camp.

Kirwan, the former All Blacks winger, turns up daily to meet reporters, cracks jokes and wants that "party attitude" to filter through to his players.

And, he warned, that should spell danger for the Welsh.

Italy beat Hansen's men in Rome earlier this year having endured a nightmare build-up which began when it became apparent no-one had booked a team coach to get to the ground.

When the squad finally arrived, in a commandeered hotel bus, they were initially barred from entering the Stadio Flaminio because their new transport was not official.

Finally, the famous blue playing jerseys were only delivered an hour before kick-off - and yet the Azzurri went out and secured only their second Six Nations victory.

"Italians are fantastic with adversity and so it is a positive for us," he said.

"That's the way they live if they are convinced and passionate about something.

"The players' attitude (before the Wales game) was that it was destiny. Italians have an incredible ability to shine when things are going bad.

"Unfortunately we took all our injuries in the last game but there are two ways of approaching it - you can be negative or you can be philosophical and our approach is the smiling one."

The last two days have been all about recovery for the Italians, leaving Kirwan no time to coach and instead relying on his players spirit and courage under fire.

"You can't coach. Normally you are used to your routines during the week - you might study Wales' attack and then go and train it, the day after we would study their defence and go out and do our attack," he said.

"We just did hot and cold (recovery sessions).

"You don't coach, you just rely on the courage and commitment of your players. You have just got to think a bit differently."

Provisional Italy squad for Saturday's game against Wales in Canberra is: G Canale; N Mazzucato, C Stoica, A Masi, D Dallan; R Wakarua, A Troncon (captain); A Lo Cicero, C Festuccia, M Castrogiovanni, C Checcinato, S Dellape, A de Rossi, A Persico, S Parisse.

Replacements: F Ongaro, S Perugini, M Phillips, S Palmer, C Bezzi, F Mazzariol, M Bergamasco.