Steyn, Van Schalkwyk among Azzurri 'rookies'
The 35-strong squad will gather for a training camp in Parma next week as the countdown to the Six Nations gathers pace.
The squad includes none of the Azzurri's overseas-based players.
The meeting will represent the chance for Brunel to run the rule over a number of players, as Italy look to build upon their fifth place finish in last year's Six Nations.
Van Schalkwyk, 30, is the scorer of five tries so far this season in the Pro12.
He played for a host of South African provinces since his first-class debut with the Falcons in 2006 – including the Boland Cavaliers, Blue Bulls, Southern Kings, Leopards, Lions and Free State Cheetahs.
He joined Zebre in Italy in 2012.
Steyn, 23, played two games for the Sharks in 2012, before heading to Italy – where he played for Mogliano, Zebre and Calvisano, before joining Benetton Treviso last year.
Both Zebre and Benetton Treviso are represented in numbers, with Van Schalkwyk selected alongside Zebre teammate Carlo Canna.
Giuseppe Di Stefano, Sami Panic and Jacopo Sarto are three to receive their first call ups.
Brunel is due to announce their final squad on either January 18 or 19, with their first fixture coming away to France on February 6.
Italy squad:
Forwards: Valerio Bernabo (Zebre), George Fabio Biagi (Zebre), Pietro Ceccarelli (Zebre), Dario Chistolini (Zebre), Tommaso D'Apice (Zebre), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Golden Flames Rome), Matthew Ferro (Femi-CZ Rovigo), Ornell Gega (Benetton Treviso), Davide Giazzon (Benetton Treviso), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre), Maxime Mbanda (Rugby Calvisano), Francesco Minto (Benetton Treviso), Sami Panico (Rugby Calvisano), Federico Ruzza (Zebre), Jacopo Sarto (Zebre), Abraham Steyn (Benetton Treviso), Andries van Schalkwyk (Zebre), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso), Matthew Zanusso (Benetton Treviso).
Backs: Mattia Bellini (Petrarca Padova), Julius Bisegni (Zebre), Thomas Boni (Zebre), Andrea Buondonno (Marchiol Mogliano), Carlo Canna (Zebre), Thomas Castle (Rugby Calvisano), Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre), Kelly Haimona (Zebre), Simone Marinaro (Golden Flames Rome), Luke McLean (Benetton Treviso), David Odiete (Marchiol Mogliano), Edward Padovani (Zebre), William Palazzini (Zebre), Andrea Pratichetti (Benetton Treviso), Marco Susio (Rugby Calvisano), Michele Visentin (Zebre).
Source: @rbs_6_nations
