On 9th November against Argentina, a loaded confrontation with multiple meanings for the Azzurri. They tread the turf at the former Friuli Stadium (now Bluenergy Stadium) in Udine for the first time in 15 years, having faced the reigning world champions South Africa there in 2009. The venue will be among the facilities used by Italy until 2026 after an agreement with Serie A side Udinese. Another point of interest in Italian rugby ahead of the Autumn Nations Series is the recent appointment of a new FIR president, Andrea Duodo, elected by a majority at the assembly in Bologna. Additionally, the Pumas clash will see Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada up against a side for whom he won 39 caps as a fly-half in the late 90s and early 00s.
The new Italy rugby jersey will be making its debut for the men's side (the women's side will also be wearing it in the upcoming WXV): a tribute to Renaissance art and one of its greatest exponents, Michelangelo Buonarroti. Sport and art fused together, exalting the Italian spirit and its excellence.
Eight days later, on 17th November, another challenge follows that is difficult to predict. The venue this time will be Genoa's Stadio Luigi Ferraris and the opponents Georgia, who will arrive in Liguria with the intention of further boosting their credentials for a ticket to the great international stages - while Italy will have to try to make up for the defeat they suffered in July 2022 against Los Lelos in Batumi, on the shores of the Black Sea.
Once again, a three-year agreement with the City of Genoa will see the Marassi facility carve out a new spot for the Italian oval ball - where the first match was played as far back as 1935 against Catalonia - and which returns to host a top-level match in the year that the capital was designated European Capital of Sport.
It's difficult to see winger Pierre Bruno returning to the national jersey. It wasn't so long ago that the then Zebre winger was kneeling on the Sampdoria pitch after a match against the Springboks, asking his fiancรฉe to marry him. A summer move to Valorugby of Reggio Emilia in the Italian championship means he is unlikely to find a space in the national team.
Italy's Autumn Nations Series finishes on a bag on 23rd November with the eagerly-awaited match against the All Blacks. It will be the 18th between the two sides, and one in which the Azzurri have never tasted victory. Rugby returns to Turin for this encounter, but it will be a first for the game at Allianz Stadium - the home of Juventus, not to be confused with the newly-named Allianz Stadium some 1000 miles away in Twickenahm - which promises to be sold out. Already there has been been a surge of ticket-seekers in recent weeks.
Three matches that immediately promise to be a real test for the Italian defence, which has passed after severl years of Marius Goosen's management to that of former Cardiff Rugby and Wales U20 defensive guru Richard Hodges.
So what sort of shape will Italy be in going into the Autumn Nations Series?
Firstly, on the back of their best Guinness Men's Six Nations in history (two wins, one draw, two defeats), and one which saw Lorenzo Pani claim Try of the Championship and the Tommaso Menoncello named the best player of any team in the campaign.
Eighth in the world rankings, the Azzurri national team has just come back from a probing tour of the Pacific in July, with a debut defeat against Samoa (33-25) and two victories against Tonga (14-36) and Eddie Jones' Japan (14-42).
It is hard to imagine that Gonzalo Quesada, in his second season at the helm, would want to revolutionise the team and make too many bold choices.
To make up for Pani's absence, Matt Gallagher, who arrived in Treviso from Bath in the summer, made his debut against Samoa.
The English-born, also formerly of Saracens (with whom he won a Premiership title) and Munster, Gallagher won the World Rugby U20 Championship with England in 2016. He offers an alternative to the electric Ange Capuozzo. Like Pani, Gallagher allows a greater possibility of vision with his left boot.
Gallagher, who has signed a contract with Benetton until 2027, qualifies as an Italian thanks to his mother's side of the family, while his father John is a former All Black who won the inaugural World Cup in 1987.
From one son of a famous rugby-playing father to another: wing Louis Lynagh, who marked his debut last Friday for Benetton with a try at home against his former Harlequins teammates.
The possible return at wing or centre for Paul Odogwu shouldn't be forgotten either. The former Wasps and Stade Francais man returned to the field in the friendly match between Treviso and Harlequins almost nine months after rupturing his achilles tendon in the home match against the Zebre.
In the forwards, Ross Vintcent continues to impress in pre-season with Exeter Chiefs, and should have a big role to play in the Autumn Nations Series.
Are there any other possible outsiders for a place in the squad? It remains to be seen whether a second chance will be given to Castres hooker Loris Zarantonello, called up for the Pacific tour but not particularly brilliant on his debut against Samoa. He will face competition from the likes of France-based Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Francais) and Gianmarco Lucchesi (Toulon), but also with the desire for revenge of Marco Manfredi, who in turn switched from Parma to Treviso in the summer.
From beyond the Alps, one other eagerly awaited arrival is that of young Oyonnax back rower David Odiase, who has already impressed in the U20 Six Nations. He boasts plenty of physicality but, above all, has character and leadership to spare.
Odiase and second row Muhamed Hasa, another name on the radar of Quesada's staff, were among the last players to be shed from Italy's squad before departing for Auckland in the summer. Italian-Albanian Hasa's teammate at Zebre, Matteo Nocera, is also a candidate for a spot in the front row, as is Benetton prop Riccardo Genovese (another who won admires with the U20s).
What is certain is that Italian fans can expect three great weekends of Test rugby great between Udine, Genoa and Turin.
