Italy head coach Giampiero Ventura is willing to embrace the "gamble" of starting Alessio Romagnoli against Spain on Thursday.
The 2010 world champions face the Azzurri at Juventus Stadium in their second qualifying match for the World Cup finals in Russia.
Italy triumphed 2-0 when the sides met in the last 16 at Euro 2016, but experienced defender Giorgio Chiellini — who scored the opener on that day in Paris — is suspended for Thursday's encounter.
Romagnoli, 21, missed AC Milan's dramatic 4-3 Serie A win over Sassuolo on Sunday with a minor injury, but Ventura is prepared to hand him his senior Italy debut from the start in Turin.