Preview: Glasgow v Aironi

Editor

Aironi face Glasgow in the Magners League on Friday, in what will be their last game before a two-week break when the Azzurri are in action.

Aironi have named their side to face Glasgow Warriors on Friday at Firhill in their last game before a two-week break when the Italian Test team are in action.

The majority of players called up for last week's Italian training session in Rome will not take part in the trip to Scotland.

The only two exceptions are scrum-halves Giulio Toniolatti and Pablo Canavosio, with Toniolattie returning to the position where he has won five Italian caps after a period playing on the wing.

Compared to the team that started last week's match against Cardiff Blues in Viadana, there is a complete shake-up in the backline.

Rodd Penney will move to the wing leaving space for Gilberto Pavan at centre alongside Gabriel Pizarro. Giovanbattista Venditti, who scored the last try for Aironi two weeks ago in the defeat to Dragons, is also back in the starting XV.

There are first starts in the pack for exciting prospects prop Andrea De Marchi and lock Joshua Furno. De Marchi completes the front row with Luigi Ferraro and Luca Redolfini, while Furno will play alongside Marco Bortolami, with the former Italy captain skippering Aironi for the first time.

Meanwhile, Glasgow captain Alastair Kellock will make his eagerly awaited return to action in what will be the club's first ever Magners League match against Italian opposition.

Kellock has not played since he captained Scotland to an historic two-Test series victory over Argentina in June. However, he will lead the Warriors against Aironi in the final match before the break for the November internationals.

“It's been a tough time for me over the past few months trying to get back fit again,” said Kellock.

“I'm not a very good spectator because I'd much rather be on the park with the boys, so I'm delighted to get back involved.

“I now hope I can use all the hard work I've put in with the physio and fitness staff to my benefit and the team's benefit.”

The teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Colin Shaw, 13 Federico Aramburu, 12 Rob Dewey, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Calum Forrester, 6 Robert Harley, 5 Alastair Kellock (c) 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Kevin Tkachuk, 18 Moray Low, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Peter Murchie, 23 Hefin O'Hare

Aironi: 15 Julien Laharrague, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Gilberto Pavan, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Rodd Penney, 10 Ludovic Mercier, 9 Giulio Toniolatti, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Andrea Benatti, 6 Jaco Erasmus, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 Marco Bortolami (c), 3 Luca Redolfini, 2 Luigi Ferraro, 1 Andrea De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Roberto Santamaria, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Alberto De Marchi, 19 Vickus Liebenberg, 20 Aldo Birchall, 21 Pablo Canavosio, 22 Giulio Rubini, 23 Alberto Benettin.

Date: Friday, November 5
Venue: Firhill
Kick-off: 19:30 GMT
Referee: Simon Mcdowell (Ireland
Assistant Referees: Andy Ireland (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)