The England team will be captained by Sedbergh and Sale Sharks centre Tom Casson. His side go into the game off the back of a 25-15 defeat of Wales on March 2 at Worcester Warriors' Sixways stadium.
Admitting it is important his team get off to a good start, England Under-18 coach Alex Sanderson said: "We have come here with the mind-set and goal to win every game but at the moment all our focus is on playing Italy. We know a little about our opponents.
"They were recently beaten by France but they ran them close. We know that they have a big, physical pack and we expect them to be as passionate as every Italian team."
Italy's squad includes players who recently competed in the FIRA-AER Under-18 European championship so they go into thos game with plenty of experience. They are expected to be tough up front and to pose a big physical threat.
ENGLAND UNDER-18 TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v Italy, 2008 Under-18 Six Nations Festival, Temple Hill, Wednesday, March 26, kick-off 5pm):
15 - Jack Wallace (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)
14 - Christian Wade (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)
13 - Tom Casson (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks) (capt)
12 - Tom Homer (Milton Abbey & London Irish)
11 - Sam Smith (Cranleigh & Harlequins)
10 - Freddie Burns (Bath College & Bath Rugby)
9 - Sam Harrison (John Cleveland College & Leicester Tigers)
1 - Lee Imiolek (Myerscough College & Sale Sharks)
2 - David Blackwell (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby)
3 - James Currie (Millfield & Bath Rugby)
4 - Joe Quinn (St. Wilfred's School & Leeds Carnegie)
5 - James Gaskell (Sandbach & Sale Sharks)
6 - Jacob Rowan (Bradford GS & Leeds Carnegie)
7 - Joe Barker (QEGS Wakefield & Leeds Carnegie)
8 - Rob Milligan (Rugby School & Northampton Saints)
Replacements:
16 - Joe Marler (Richmond College & Harlequins)
17 - Jamie George (Haileybury & Saracens)
18 - Mako Vunipola (Millfield & Bristol Rugby)
19 - Tom Holmes (Sandbach & Sale Sharks)
20 - Joe Trayfoot (Epsom College & Harlequins)
21 - Alex Gray (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)
22 - Jordi Pasqualin (The King's School Gloucs & Gloucester Rugby)
23 - Rory Clegg (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)
24 - Will Hurrell (Wyggeston & QE1 Coll Leicester Tigers)
25 - Andy Forsyth (QEGS Wakefield & Leicester Tigers)
26 - Tom Catterick (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)
ITALY TEAM & REPLACEMENTS:
15 - Marcello Paglia (Rugby Noceto FC)
14 - Michele Mortali (Gran Parma Rugby)
13 - Costantino Ricciardi (Petrarca)
12 - Giovanbattista Venditti (SSD Unione Capitolina)
11 - Giovanno Frapporti (Valpolicella)
10 - Fillippo Michelini (Viadana)
9 - Edoardo Gori (Cavalieri)
1 - Nicola Corbanese (Benetton Treviso)
2 - Enrico Lioineri (Ruggers Tarvisum)
3 - Zamparo Matteo (Amatori San Dona)
4 - Daniele Fratalochhi (Sambendettese)
5 - Paolo Stinchello (SSD Unione Capitolina)
6 - Marco Barbino (Petraca)
7 - Fillppo Ferrarini (Noceto FC)
8 - Gabriele Cicchinelli (SSD Unione Capitolina)
Replacements:
16 - Andrea Manici (Gran Parma)
17 - Nicola Corbanese (Bennetton Treviso)
18 - Antonio Denti (Viadana)
19 - Lorenzo Santelli (ASD Universita Cosenza)
20 - Fillipo Cazzola (Montebelluna)
21 - Tommaso Bergonzini (Viadana)
22 - Nicola Belardo (Partenope)
23 - Sebastian Rodwell (Firenze)
24 - Francesco Lenzi (Cavalieri)
25 - Alberto Chillon (Petrarca)
26 - Tommaso Benvenuti (Viadana)