The side is largely made up from the side which downed South Africa last November with inspirational No 8 Sergio Parisse leading the side out in in 122nd Test match.
There is no room for Michele Campagnaro who has been in sizzling form for the Exeter Chiefs with O’Shea opting for Edoardo Padovani at full-back with Giulio Bisegni and Giovanbattista Venditti starting on the wings.
Luke McLean, more accustomed to full back, switches to inside centre and will team up with Tommaso Benvenuti in midfield with Edoardo Gori at number nine while Carlo Canna will start at fly half.
Italy team to take on Wales:
15. Edoardo Padovani (Zebre Rugby, 6 caps)
14. Giulio Bisegni (Zebre Rugby, 5 caps)
13. Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Treviso, 37 caps)
12. Luke McLean (Benetton Treviso, 84 caps)
11. Giovanbattista Venditti (Zebre Rugby, 38 caps)
10. Carlo Canna (Zebre Rugby, 15 caps)
9. Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso, 56 caps)
1. Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby, 9 caps)
2. Ornel Gega (Benetton Treviso, 8 caps)
3. Lorenzo Cittadini (Aviron Bayonnais, 53 caps)
4. Marco Fuser (Benetton Treviso, 16 caps)
5. George Biagi (Zebre Rugby, 14 caps)
6. Abraham Steyn (Benetton Treviso, 6 caps)
7. Maxime Mata Mbanda’ (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps)
8. Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais, 121 caps) – capitano
Replacements:
16. Leonardo Ghiraldini (Stade Toulousain, 82 caps)
17. Sami Panico (Patarò Calvisano, 6 caps)
18. Pietro Ceccarelli (Zebre Rugby, 5 caps)
19. Joshua Furno (Zebre Rugby, 36 caps)
20. Francesco Minto (Benetton Treviso, 31 caps)
21. Giorgio Bronzini (Benetton Treviso, 3 caps)
22. Tommaso Allan (Benetton Treviso, 27 caps)
23. Michele Campagnaro (Exeter Chiefs, 25 caps)
