Russell has started three of Glasgow Warriors' GUINNESS PRO12 fixtures this season and is joined in Cotter's back division by clubmates Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, and Mark Bennett.
The Scottish playmaker will be head-to-head with league rival Kelly Haimona, who has also played three games for his club Zebre this season including victory over domestic rivals Benetton Treviso.
Haimona, who replaces injured club colleague Carlo Canna, links up with Zebre teammates Leonardo Sarto and powerhouse centre Gonzalo Garcia, while Benetton Treviso's Edoardo Gori starts at scrum-half for Jacques Brunel's Azzurri.
And in one key match-up, Scarlets' John Barclay and Edinburgh's John Hardie attempt to nullify the threat posed by Treviso back-row pair Alessandro Zanni and Francesco Minto.
Scotland's all-Edinburgh front-row of Ross Ford, Willem Nel and Alasdair Dickinson will look to continue their excellent form against wily former Treviso men Lorenzo Cittadini and Leonardo Ghiraldini as well as Zebre up and comer Andrea Lovotti.
World Cup quarter-finalists Nel and Ford were part of the Edinburgh side that claimed both legs of the 1872 Cup over Christmas, while young loosehead Rory Sutherland is rewarded for his excellent form for Edinburgh with a spot on the bench.
Italy team to face Scotland:
15. David Odiete (Marchiol Mogliano), 14. Leonardo Sarto (Zebre Rugby), 13. Michele Campagnaro (Exeter Chiefs), 12. Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre Rugby), 11. Mattia Bellini (Petrarca Padova), 10. Kelly Haimona (Zebre Rugby), 9. Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso), 1. Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby), 2. Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers), 3. Lorenzo Cittadini (Wasps), 4. Marco Fuser (Benetton Treviso), 5. Joshua Furno (Newcastle Falcons), 6. Francesco Minto (Benetton Treviso), 7. Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso), 8. Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais)
Replacements: 16. Davide Giazzon (Benetton Treviso), 17. Matteo Zanusso (Benetton Treviso), 18. Martin Castrogiovanni (Racing 92), 19. Valerio Bernabo' (Zebre Rugby), 20. Andries Van Schalkwyk (Zebre Rugby), 21. Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre Rugby), 22. Edoardo Padovani (Zebre Rugby), 23. Andrea Pratichetti (Benetton Treviso)
Scotland Team to face Italy:
15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), 14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), 13. Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), 12. Duncan Taylor (Saracens), 11. Tim Visser (Harlequins), 10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), 9. Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), 1. Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), 2. Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby)
3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), 4. Richie Gray (Castres), 5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), 6. John Barclay (Scarlets), 7. John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby), 8. David Denton (Bath Rugby)
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby), 17 Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby), 18 Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs), 19 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), 20 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), 22 Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), 23 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors)
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