FRANCE V ITALY:FRANCE HEAD coach Marc Lièvremont maintains a victory over wooden-spoon favourites Italy this weekend is no foregone conclusion.

With Les Bleus still in the hunt for a third consecutive title and having never lost to the Azzurri in the Six Nations, many are predicting a comfortable home victory at the Stade de France tomorrow.

But the new-look French are in a transitional phase under Lièvremont, who has made nine changes for the match. They look as unpredictable as ever and Lièvremont is warning it will not be an easy ride against the Italians, who are coming into the match on the back of a 47-8 loss to Wales.

"We are very wary because this (Italy) team has held its own in the basics, in the set-piece and in contact in the opening three matches," he said. "They are proud and after being caught with their trousers down against Wales, they are going to want to perform at the Stade de France. It is important my players are focused because many people think winning by a wide margin is mandatory.

"It is quite a dangerous match. But I have confidence in my players and it is the first game for some, so it is out of the question that we are going to underestimate Italy."

Last year, France won 39-3 in Rome but Italy normally produce a better effort in Paris.

"It is always the same against the Italians," said France scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili, who has been recalled for this weekend. "Each time we play them in Paris, they bother us. Even though we beat them quite easily at their place, it is always tricky in France.

"Their power and tackling worries us and gets us annoyed. They are Latin like us."

A France win coupled with an Ireland victory over Wales would leave the tournament wide open heading into the final weekend, when Wales host France in what could be the tournament decider.

"If we beat Italy, we'll have something to play for when we go to the Millennium Stadium," added Lièvremont.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse has called on his side to banish memories of their capitulation to Wales. They conceded 34 points after the break at the Millennium Stadium two weeks ago to slip to their third straight defeat.

Number eight Parisse, who plays his club rugby in France with Stade Français, told the sports daily L'Équipe: "France has not been a successful place for us over the past few years.

"Paris isn't the ideal place for us to find our feet again. But, on the other hand, what we showed in Cardiff did not reflect the true face of Italian rugby. It is up to us to demonstrate that this weekend."

Coach Nick Mallett, a former Stade Français boss, added: "It's obviously going to be a very difficult game for Italy against France, who have a lot of good players. But we have watched the videos and I'm sure my players will do much better than the second half against Wales."

Italy will come up against some unfamiliar faces in Paris as the hosts have turned to youth. Flankers Ibrahim Diarra and Fulgence Ouedraogo, number eight Louis Picamoles and outhalf François Trinh-Duc have just eight caps between them, but Parisse said: "The Diarras, Ouedraogos, Picamoles and Trinh-Ducs of this world do not have a lot of experience, but they are the men in form at the moment. And they represent the future of French rugby."