Italy vs Cameroon Preview

Italy coach Marcello Lippi admits his squad is below full strength but believes the Azzurri can still test Cameroon.

Both sides head into the encounter at the Stade Louis II on the back of first-place finishes in their World Cup qualifying groups.

The world champions are without injured Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Grosso, Gianluca Zambrotta, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Gaetano D'Agostino, but Lippi is looking at the positives.

"Cameroon is a strong rival," he said. "We could face them in the last 16 of the World Cup.

"But we go into this game wearing a mask, like in a carnival, because we have so many players absent through injury.

"But I am not worried, I will have time for that later on.

"For the time being my consolation is that those that are absent will have more energy to give in South Africa."

Tomorrow's match - Italy's first of three friendlies before the World Cup finals - will be an opportunity for Lippi to evaluate several other candidates to complete his squad for this summer's tournament.

"We are going to try different formations and new players," said Lippi.

"Tomorrow's game is important because it is against a good team and it could be the last opportunity to try some new things.

"I must allow the new players to play in order to evaluate them."

One of those players is Bari's Leonardo Bonucci, who will make his debut for the world champions tomorrow.

Bonucci will play from the start alongside Fabio Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini in defence.

Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi, Cristian Maggio and Domenico Criscito will line up in midfield.

AC Milan's Marco Borriello, who returns to the national team after almost a two-year absence, will partner Serie A's top scorer Antonio Di Natale and debutant Andrea Cossu of Cagliari up front.

"I want to see new things," said Lippi. "There isn't much difference between a three-man defence and a four-man defence.

"Many teams change tactics during a game and we can also do that."

Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen has dropped former captain Rigobert Song and experienced midfielder Geremi from his squad for the game.

The Indomitable Lions reached the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup earlier this year but, after a 3-1 defeat to eventual winners Egypt, Le Guen said some of his players had underachieved at the tournament in Angola.

Le Guen has recalled Tottenham defenders Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastien Bassong, both of whom missed the African Nations Cup.

Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o is expected to lead Cameroon's attack against the Azzurri.