Southampton striker Graziano Pelle leads the Italian attack against Malta at the Artemio Franchi this evening.

Manchester United's Matteo Darmian starts in defence, while Sampdoria's Brazilian-born forward Eder wins his third cap for Antonio Conte's team.

Malta's Clayton Failla, who scored their only goal of the qualifying campaign so far in the 1-1 draw against Bulgaria in November, keeps his place in defence.

However, record goalscorer Michael Mifsud, formerly of Coventry City and Barnsley, has to settle for a place on the bench.

Italy: Buffon; Pasqual, Chiellini, Bonucci, Darmian; Pirlo, Bertolacci, Verratti; Eder, Pelle, Gabbiadini.
Subs: De Sciglio, Insigne, Florenzi, Padelli, Zaza, Vazquez, De Rossi, Barzagli, Mandziuk, Soriano, Candreva, Sirigu.

Malta: Hogg; A. Muscat, Agius, Borg, Failla, Z. Muscat; Fenech, Briffa, R. Muscat; Schembri, Effiong.
Subs: Mifsud, Vella, Bonello, Kristensen, Pisani, Bajada, Zarafa, Haber, Cohen, Sciberras, Triganza, Baldacchino.

Follow Sports Mole's live coverage of the game here.