Right then, as kick-off edges closer, let's remind ourselves of the team news, big talking points and key stats.

For example, Wales are the only side yet to receive a yellow or red card in this year's Championship, and they've gone 14 Six Nations matches without such a punishment.

Italy, by contrast, have conceded 41 penalties in this year's Six Nations, a joint high with England, including nine at the scrum - which is at least four more than any other side.

All that and much more in this comprehensive match preview.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

This is how things stand at the moment in the Six Nations.

Wales are five points clear at the top of the table, though France in second have played one game fewer as they're still waiting for a new date for their postponed match against Scotland.

Win today and Wales are one victory away from a second Grand Slam in three seasons.

Their opponents next weekend? France in Paris. What a finale that could be.

To get you in the mood for today, here's how Wales secured the Triple Crown last time out.

Image source, BBC Sport

Gaming fans might be interested to know there's quite an intense Warzone competition among the Wales players.

In his latest BBC Sport Wales column, full-back Liam Williams discusses that very topic and why he hopes Wales make hay in the Rome sunshine this afternoon.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Oh to be in Rome today.

A morning spent sipping an espresso or two near the Piazza del Popolo, some fine Italian cuisine for lunch before making your way over to Stadio Olimpico, then maybe a nice glass of something afterwards.

Not that I've been dwelling on this as strong winds and heavy rain have been battering Cardiff the past few days.

So how exactly have Wales improved so dramatically during this Six Nations?

If you're looking for some tactical insight, let me point you in the direction of this excellent video from Squidge Rugby.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

And by the way, you might be thinking, 'There's Alun Wyn Jones, getting ready to play in his 4,574th Test for Wales' and wondering what the legendary lock might have planned for the future.

This summer's British and Irish Lions tour? A new contract with his beloved Ospreys?

But the 35-year-old isn't always that keen to discuss such matters.

Jones' current contract with the Welsh Rugby Union and Ospreys finishes at the end of this season.

As his Ospreys coach Toby Booth explains, Jones will sort out his future after the Six Nations.

There's a school of thought that Wales tend to get better during Six Nations campaigns and this year's events support that view.

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones also reckons the same could be said about Italy.

The Azzurri have lost their past 30 Six Nations games in the competition in a losing streak that goes back to 2015.

But Jones is wary of the threat they will pose in Rome today.

It's been quite the turnaround for Wales, who lost seven of their 10 Tests last year and endured their worst Six Nations since 2007.

Now they're two wins away from a Grand Slam.

Centre Jonathan Davies says Wales' transformation under Wayne Pivac is similar to events at Scarlets in the early days of the coach's time there.

A word from World Rugby's Dominic Rumbles on how today's result may affect the world rankings.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales have been here before. A Six Nations starting with two scratchy wins, followed by a second-half surge to see off England, leaving them two victories away from a Grand Slam.

That was the situation Wales found themselves in 2019 and now once again this year.

When Wales face Italy this afternoon, among the players remaining from their triumphant 2019 campaign will be fly-half Dan Biggar.

In this interview, Biggar discusses Grand Slams, his combination with Callum Sheedy and how his wife's cakes are helping keep morale up in the Wales squad.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

The breakthrough star of this Six Nations has been Louis Rees-Zammit, a spellbinding young talent on the Wales wing.

But the 20-year-old says he had sleepless nights after helping Wales win the Triple Crown against England.

Not because it was his first silverware in his first Six Nations campaign, but because he had failed to add to his tally of four international tries - sprinting clear in pursuit of a Callum Sheedy kick before being beaten by the cruel bounce of the ball as the England try line loomed.

"I was devastated last weekend that I didn't score late on," said Rees-Zammit.

"I know as long as we get the win, that's all that matters, but I still couldn't sleep for two days afterwards."

You can read that interview in full here.

Those are some of today's key protagonists then.

Let's cast our minds back to some of the most memorable moments from previous matches between Italy and Wales.

From the brilliance of wing Shane Williams to Welsh humiliation in Rome, this fixture has served up some stories over the years - as this video demonstrates.

Staying with Stephen Varney, the Italy scrum-half appears to have some sort of family connection with his opposite number for Wales, Gareth Davies.

Not that either of them are certain about the exact link.

"He's from Pembrokeshire, I think he's related to me somehow," Davies told BBC Radio Cymru.

"Someone's cousin's cousin. There is a connection there somewhere."

No Christmas family gatherings, but perhaps a connection nonetheless. One for the genealogists rather than the rugby fans.

What is definite is that the opposing half-backs brought up just 17 miles apart will be representing Wales and Italy on the weekend.

You can read more about that here.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Getty Images

As for the Italy team news, there's an interesting Welsh angle.

Welsh-born scrum-half Stephen Varney returns to the Azzurri's starting line-up after missing the Ireland game with an injury in the warm-up.

Varney is among five changes from the side beaten 48-10 in Dublin.

Also in are wing Mattia Bellini, props Danilo Fischetti and Giosue Zilocchi, and lock Niccolo Cannone.

Here's the Italy team in full:

Jacopo Trulla; Mattia Bellini, Juan Ignacio Brex, Carlo Canna, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Luca Bigi (capt), Giosue Zilocchi, Niccola Cannone, David Sisi, Sebastian Negri, Johan Meyer, Michele Lamaro.

Replacements: Oliviero Fabiani, Andrea Lovotti, Marco Riccioni, Marco Lazzaroni, Maxime Mbanda, Marcello Violi, Federico Mori, Edoardo Padovani.

For a little more on that Wales team, how about we hear from the man who chose it?

Head coach Wayne Pivac says Wales have a job to do against Italy and that fans should not expect "razzle dazzle" in Rome.

You've been warned.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's start with the Wales team news and there are two changes from the impressive 40-24 win over England.

The two players recalled are Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies and Cardiff Blues lock Cory Hill.

Davies replaces injured Scarlets team-mate Kieran Hardy, while Hill is rewarded for a try-scoring replacement appearance against England.

The rested Adam Beard drops out of the squad, while Lloyd Williams and Jake Ball have been named as replacements.

Here's the Wales team in full:

Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Leon Brown, Jake Ball, Aaron Wainwright, Lloyd Williams, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

The Six Nations is back!

A fortnight since the last round of matches, today Wales get the weekend's action underway in Rome against Italy.

And it seems Wales are... (checks notes)... two wins away from a Grand Slam? How did that happen?

It was only last year they endured their worst Six Nations for more than a decade, ending 2020 with seven defeats from 10 Tests overall.

However, this year they've already won the Triple Crown after beating Ireland, Scotland and England in their three matches to date.

Can they keep up the momentum with victory in Rome? We'll soon find out.