 Marcato will be on duty for Italy A against England Saxons
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Andrea Marcato has been left out of Italy's squad for Saturday's Six Nations opener against Ireland.
Marcato was first choice full-back during last year's tournament and has also played fly-half for his country.
However, he is among six players trimmed from the squad even though fly-half Craig Gower is a doubt because of a knee injury.
Antonio Pavanello, Simone Favaro and Manoa Vosawai are among others omitted from the original 30-man squad.
Marcato, Pavanello, Favaro and Vosawai have all been released from the squad to play for Italy A against England Saxons on Sunday along with centre Matteo Pratichetti and wing Michele Sepe.
Italy coach Nick Mallett will finalise his selection on Thursday for Saturday's contest at Croke Park.
Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini will captain the side in Sergio Parisse's absence.
Inspirational number eight Parisse will miss the entire tournament following knee ligament surgery.
The squad includes the Bergamasco brothers Mauro and Mirco while English-based players include Saracens duo Fabio Ongaro and Matias Aguero.
Leicester's Martin Castrogiovanni and Gloucester Marco Bortolami are also in the squad.
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The Italian coach is putting on a brave face despite the loss of the influential Parisse.
"It would be a sad situation if Italy was only a competitive team when Sergio Parisse was playing," added Mallett.
"It's fantastic to have a player like him, but in the broader context of the team, we can still perform without him.
Mallett, a South African who nonetheless insists on Italian being spoken at all team meetings, is not expecting to have to repeat last season's failed measure of playing flanker Mauro Bergamasco at scrum-half
The Italy coach is not expecting victory in Ireland but said home matches against England and Scotland were winnable.
"We're not in such desperate straits as last year when I had to pick Mauro at scrum-half because I didn't have anyone else available," he added.
"Last year was a very poor selection forced upon me by circumstances."
Italy squad:
Forwards: Matias Aguero, Mauro Bergamasco, Marco Bortolami, Martin Castrogiovanni, Lorenzo Cittadini, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Paul Derbyshire, Quintin Geldenhuys, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Fabio Ongaro, Salvatore Perugini, Josh Sole, Alessandro Zanni.
Backs: Mirco Bergamasco, Riccardo Bocchino, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Craig Gower, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Simon Picone, Kaine Robertson, Alberto Sgarbi, Tito Tebaldi.
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