Australia have made wholesale changes, including the selection of a prop who has never started a professional match, for Saturday's test against Italy in Padua.

Australia coach Robbie Deans made eight changes to the starting side that lost to New Zealand in Hong Kong last weekend, giving some of his second-stringers the chance to impress while saving his top players for next week's clash with England at Twickenham.

Deans also included three uncapped players, prop Sekope Kepu, outhalf Quade Cooper and 18-year-old fullback James O'Connor, on his reserves bench.

O'Connor would become the second-youngest player to represent the Wallabies if he played. The youngest remains Queensland winger Brian Ford, who was 36 days younger when he made his debut as an 18-year-old against the All Blacks in 1957.

Loosehead prop Ben Alexander, who has made just two appearances for Australia off the bench and has never even started a Super 14 match, was included in the run-on team for the first time.

He was among four changes to the starting forward pack, which has been the weakest link in Australian rugby for the past few years.

Openside flanker Phil Waugh, looshead prop Matt Dunning and lock Hugh McMeniman were also called up, leaving number eight Richard Brown, lock Mark Chisholm and hooker Stephen Moore as the only survivors from Hong Kong.

"We've got a demanding schedule ahead of us on this tour so sharing the work load is essential. We selected the touring party with that in mind," Deans said in a statement.

"It's not a case of underestimating the Italians, they will present arguably the strongest forward pack we face on this trip, but the guys we have selected have worked hard and we're confident they can do the job."

Australia: A Ashley-Cooper; L Turner, S Mortlock (c), T Tahu, D Ioane; B Barnes, L Burgess; B Alexander, S Moore, M Dunning; M Chisholm, H McMeniman; D Mumm, P Waugh, R Brown. Replacements: T Polota-Nau, S Kepu, 1W Palu, D Pocock, M Giteau, Q Cooper, J O'Connor.