Former Australia rugby league star Craig Gower will make his international rugby union debut for Italy on Saturday night against the Wallabies at Canberra Stadium.

The 31-year-old, who switched codes in 2007 to link with French Top 14 club Bayonne, will go head to head with playmaker Matt Giteau after he was selected at starting fly-half.

"I'm still learning, I've got a hell of a long way to go," he said. "This is my fifth match playing fly-half so just looking forward to the opportunity. Obviously it's a big occasion."

He added:"It's going to be a tough task for the team and for myself but obviously these challenges come to you and that's what sport's about - challenging yourself at the highest level, and this is a great occasion."

Italy coach Nick Mallett is not expecting miracles from the former Kangaroos half-back.

"(In terms of) how he's going to go, obviously rugby union's a fantastic game and it all depends on the people around you," he said.

"If the people around you perform well you perform well so you can't look at a player in isolation, especially a number 10."

He added: "What I'm looking for from him is just the confidence and the decision-making ability that every international number 10 has to have, as well as really good organisational skills in defence.

"Because the number 10 channel is one around which a lot of the backline defence is organised and if the number 10 is good and likes and enjoys that part of the game, it helps all the players inside and outside him.

"He's going to depend a lot on the quality of the ball that the forwards get and if the forwards manage to get some reasonable first-phase ball then we can judge whether or not he's got the ability to do the job."