Morten Olsen's side are currently third in Group B on 12 points from eight matches, one point behind Bulgaria with Italy having already qualified for the 2014 showpiece with 20 points.
The Danes are looking to qualify for their fifth World Cup, but will have to better Bulgaria's results in the remaining two games to reach the play-offs.
Facing Italy is not what Olsen will have wanted with so much on the line for his players as defeat on Friday and a Bulgaria win against Armenia would end Denmark's dreams of finishing second.
Italy were the second nation after the Netherlands to qualify from Europe for next year's tournament and coach Cesare Prandelli is expected to experiment with his line-up in their final two matches of the group.
Prandelli's side are unbeaten in the group so far, winning six games and drawing the other two, and will want to extend that run despite already securing top spot after their 2-1 victory over Czech Republic last month.
