Steffon Armitage is relishing the chance to stand alongside his brother Delon as God Save the Queen plays at Twickenham on Saturday.

The London Irish flanker was today included with his older brother in the starting XV for England's Six Nations opener against Italy - the first time siblings have appeared in the same Red Rose Test side since Rory and Tony Underwood in 1995.

Speaking after confirmation of his call-up, Steffon said: "My heart is still pumping and I can't believe I'm going to be playing.

"Hopefully, we will stand together for the anthem before the game and Delon has said he will take care of all of the ticket requests from family and friends so I can just concentrate on my preparations."

Steffon left Saracens in July 2006 after failing to secure a place in their XV and appeared destined to be an average Guinness Premiership player who was too small at 5ft 8ins and lightweight against the game's top open-side flankers.

But he transformed his career by putting in a huge amount of work in the gym and on the track and by taking inspiration from 25-year-old Delon, who broke into the Saxons squad and then became a fixture at full-back for England in November.

Steffon added: "I was so proud of Delon for getting there before me and I cannot wait for Saturday to come.

"Delon and I have things that we do before games that we will continue this weekend, giving each other encouragement before and during the game. It was my step-father who suggested I should play flanker having appeared at scrum half, wing, centre and full-back.

"He thought I looked a bit like George Smith the Australian open side without the long hair and I love the position because I get my hands on the ball a lot more."

Steffon, who now weighs 15st 11lbs, has been the outstanding open-side flanker in the Premiership this season, successfully foraging for possession at the break down and carrying the ball with the effectiveness of a much bigger man in the loose.

The 23-year-old was rewarded with a call-up after Lewis Moody broke his ankle and now has the chance to show why he should keep the No7 jersey even when the Leicester man, Wasps' Tom Rees and Bath's Michael Lipman are fit again.

Steffon is the only new cap in the Twickenham team, which shows five changes from the defeat by New Zealand in November.

The return of Mike Tindall at centre gives England a player who can carry the ball over the gain line at the earliest opportunity, although this does mean the back division lacks subtlety and the World Cup winner will have to forge a new partnership with centre Riki Flutey, who has yet to transfer his Wasps form to the Test arena.

Mark Cueto has benefited from Ugo Monye's back injury and regains the No11 jersey even though he has been operating at full-back for Sale Sharks, while Andrew Sheridan's recall is natural given his return to fitness.

England have opted for the line-out expertise of captain Steve Borthwick and Nick Kennedy of London Irish rather than the greater power and physique of Simon Shaw, of Wasps, who doesn't even make the replacements bench, from where Tom Croft, of Leicester, must cover both back row and lock.

England (v Italy): D Armitage (Lon Irish); P Sackey (Wasps), M Tindall (Gloucester), R Flutey (Wasps), M Cueto (Sale); A Goode (Brive), D Care (Quins); A Sheridan (Sale), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), N Kennedy (Lon Irish), S Borthwick (Saracens,capt), J Haskell (Wasps), S Armitage (Lon Irish), N Easter (Quins).

Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), J White (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), B Foden (Northampton), S Geraghty (Lon Irish), M Tait (Sale).