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In-form Australia playmaker Matt Giteau has rubbished suggestions Saturday's encounter against Italy will be a one-sided affair.

Azzurri coach Nick Mallett has painted a gloomy picture of his side's prospects in the lead-up to the match, while bookmakers are predicting the hosts will rack up a cricket score.

But Giteau (pictured), who was part of the Wallabies' line-up that was almost stunned by the Italians last November, is expecting anything but a romp.

"Nick's coming out and maybe trying to lull us into some false sense of security, but Robbie's reinforced to us during the week that this is a Test match and the Italians are a very proud nation so they'll go out there and they'll give it everything," he said.

"If you look at history the last couple of times we've played them it's been quite tight, I think this game will go down to the wire and that's how we're expecting to play it."

Giteau also predicted a bruising affair against a pack capable of competing with any side in world rugby.

But the 26-year-old is more concerned with his own backyard as the Wallabies look to build on their impressive 55-7 win over the Barbarians in the season-opener.

"At the moment we're just focusing on ourselves," he said.

"Defensively we do focus on a few of the Italian players. The guys know what to expect but from our end we're just focusing on getting ourselves right."

However, the Wallabies game-breaker conceded he is looking forward to testing himself against former rugby league international Craig Gower, who will make his Test debut in enemy colours in the national capital.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," he said. "I've watched league for a long time and respected the code, so I know a little bit about him obviously watching him playing for Bayonne in the French comp. Defensively he's solid and I think he'll bring something different to the Italians in attack as well."

Australia: 15-James O'Connor, 14-Lachie Turner, 13-Stirling Mortlock (capt), 12-Berrick Barnes, 11-Drew Mitchell, 10-Matt Giteau, 9-Luke Burgess, 8-Richard Brown, 7-George Smith, 6-Dean Mumm, 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-James Horwill 3-Al Baxter, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-Ben Alexander, 18-Peter Kimlin, 19-David Pocock, 20-Josh Valentine, 21-Quade Cooper, 22-Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Italy: 15-Luke McLean, 14-Kaine Robertson, 13-Mirco Bergamasco, 12-Matteo Pratichetti, 11-Alberto Sgarbi, 10-Craig Gower, 9-Pablo Canavosio; 8-Sergio Parisse (capt), 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 5-Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4-Quintin Geldenhuys, 3-Fabio Staibano, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1-Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements: 16-Franco Sbaraglini, 17-Ignacio Rouyet, 18-Marco Bortolami, 19-Paul Derbyshire, 20-Tito Tebaldi, 21-Kristopher Burton, 22-Gonzalo Garcia.

PA Sport