PARIS - Two veteran coaches may lead out their Six Nations teams at the Stade de France on Saturday but both the hosts and Italy will be making a journey into the unknown with youthful line-ups.
France's Fiji-born Sevens star Virimi Vakatawa (L) will provide some excitement and expectation on the wing
France and the Azzurri will both take to the field with four uncapped debutants in their starting line-ups, not to mention a raft of inexperienced players.
As ever in the first post-World Cup Six Nations tournament it is a chance to field new blood and embark on another four-year cycle but with these two sides, there is an extra feeling of rejuvenation.
For France that is to be expected with Guy Noves taking charge of his first game following four years of disappointment and under-achievement with Philippe Saint-Andre.
The 'Goret' (piglet) picked 17 different half-back partnerships during his disastrous tenure and Noves has gone for yet another pairing in his first game in charge as Sebastien Bezy will make his debut at scrum-half, with six-capped Jules Plisson outside him.
"The fact that I've rejuvenated the team was in part an obligation as certain players have retired (from the international scene) after the World Cup," said Noves.
"So I'm starting from the principle that I will work with the same group of players for four years rather than working with some players who will finish in a year or two and then have to start from scratch again.
"My aim is to work with continuity despite the fact that we have little time as the players aren't often with the national team.
"I have to create a new spirit and fundamentally the reason to bring in young players is to bring in freshness and a new hope."
- Sevens star -
Fiji-born Sevens star Virimi Vakatawa will provide some excitement and expectation on the wing while Jonathan Danty comes in at centre to partner Gael Fickou in the midfield as the injured Wesley Fofana sits out.
The barrel-chested Danty will be seen as a like-for-like replacement for the dropped Mathieu Bastareaud, although the Stade Francais player insists he is more than just a crash-ball runner.
The other debutant is lock Paul Jedrasiak, although three more forwards, prop Jefferson Poirot, hooker Camille Chat and flanker Yacouba Camara could make their first appearances off the bench.
In fact, only six players from France's 62-13 World Cup quarter-final debacle against New Zealand remain in the match-day 23, a clear indication that Noves wants to move away not just from the Saint-Andre era of failure, but also the stodgy fare offered up that was so remarkably removed from traditional French flair.
Noves is a new coach bringing in new ideas, new personnel and a new epoch, but despite his countryman Jacques Brunel entering a fifth year as Italy coach, he too has rung the changes.
Full-back David Odiete, wing Mattia Bellini, hooker Ornel Gega and prop Andrea Lovotti will all make their debuts.
Two more forwards, prop Matteo Zanusso and South African-born back-rower Andries Van Schalkwyk, are set to win their first caps off the bench.
Brunel may be leaving in June, rumoured to be replaced by Harlequins' Irish coach Conor O'Shea, but he has at least decided to prepare the team for the future, with record 115-capped stalwart Martin Castrogiovanni trusted only with a place on the bench.
Captain Sergio Parisse will equal Castrogiovanni's mark when he leads out the team, although the prop will undoubtedly set a new figure once he makes his entrance.
France's best finish under Saint-Andre was fourth while they took the wooden spoon in 2013.
That was the same year Italy enjoyed their best ever tournament, winning two matches and finishing above both France and Ireland.
But this is a match between two sides that seem to have been going backwards recently, particularly after decidedly underwhelming performances at the World Cup.
Fans of both will be full of hope that this year's Six Nations can signal the start of something new, and better.