Italy's talismanic skipper Sergio Parisse is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Sergio Parisse

Teams: Italy

Italy skipper Sergio Parisse could be out for six months after suffering knee-ligament damage in training.

The inspirational No.8 has been replaced by Josh Sole in the Italy side to face Samoa in Ascoli on Saturday and is a doubt for the Six Nations.

The injury will also be a blow to Stade Francais as they look to rebuild their season in the Top 14 and also in the Heineken Cup, where they are well placed for a quarter final spot after wins over Edinburgh and Bath.

Parisse could be set for surgery, which would likely rule him out of Italy's Six Nations campaign and a significant portion of the Heineken Cup, which would be a hammer blow to Italy given his standing. He has produced superb performances this autumn, notably against the All Blacks at the San Siro, after returning from a ban for an eye gouge on All Black lock Isaac Ross. Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini will take over the captaincy this weekend.

"At the moment the possibility of surgery can't be excluded, which would have a recovery time of around 120 to 180 days," Italy doctor Roberto Pozzoni told Reuters.

Italy begin their 2010 Six Nations Championship campaign against Ireland in Dublin on February 6.