Franco Smith has named a squad largely similar to the group selected for the autumn international window, with the addition of six uncapped players.
Wales-born Stephen Varney made appearances off the Italy bench in Nations Cup games against Scotland and France last month.
Italy are on a horrible losing streak in the Six Nations and things won't get any easier with title-chasing England in Rome on Saturday.
Brive were worthy returnees to the Top 14 after a single Pro D2 campaign and while recruitment has been limited, there can expect consolidation in 2020/21.
While broadly speaking clubs across Europe have tightened their belts over the course of a locked-down 2020, the Top 14 have managed to get out their checkbooks out.
It was May 2 when Brive announced that 10 players would leave… the Top 14 club have now recruited 5 replacements, including Fijian Setariki Tuicuvu.
The Guinness PRO14 have released a list of the 20 players whose futures appear to lie elsewhere beyond the current season, with many either transferring, retiring or being released by their respective clubs.
Edinburgh Rugby have today confirmed that nine members of the squad will leave the club at the end of the 2019-20 season.