The trio are among the 22 players named by Les Bleus on Sunday, after a 40-man party assembled in Marcoussis ahead of the tournament.

Toulouse full-back Poitrenaud, who has been in superb form this season, has not played for France since June last year, while Sale Sharks number eight Chabal has to go back to November 2005 for his last cap.

Stade Français fly-half Skrela has been in the international wilderness for almost six years - his last appearance for his country came in June 2001.

With Frédéric Michalak in the throws of a long-term injury, Skrela will be competing with Damien Traille, normally a centre, for the starting spot at number 10, but Chabal and Poitrenaud are likely to start.

The squad has been hit with a series of injuries over the past month, with captain and lock Fabien Pelous, scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, hooker Benoît August and number eight Elvis Vermeulen among those missing for the Italy match.

Pelous was set to equal Phillipe Sella's record of 111 French caps in Italy, but now he will hope to achieve that honour in Dublin in a fortnight's time.

Elissalde's absence means the No.9 jersey will go to either Pierre Mignoni or Dimitri Yachvili.

Meanwhile, France wing Aurélien Rougerie will miss the opener after picking up a red card in the Top 14 on Saturday.

The Clermont star, who has 45 caps to his name, earned a two yellow cards for two deliberate knock-ons as his side recorded a 22-18 win over Agen.

A second yellow is always accompanied by one of a a darker hue, and, under French league rules, a red card carries an automatic one-match ban.

Laporte has said every member of the 40-man squad will start at least one game in the Six Nations.

France squad:

Backs: Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Pierre Mignoni (Clermont-Auvergne), David Skrela (Stade Français), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Florian Fritz, Yannick Jauzion, Vincent Clerc (all Toulouse), Christophe Dominici (Stade Français), Cédric Heymans, Clement Poitrenaud (both Toulouse).

Forwards: Sylvain Marconnet, Pieter De Villiers (both Stade Français), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Raphaël Ibañez (Wasps), Jérôme (Biarritz), Lionel Nallet, Pascal Papé (both Castres), Serge Betsen (Biarritz), Julien Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Sébastien Chabal (Sale), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz).