European captain Paul McGinley will have to make a number of tough calls on his selection depending on results at the tournament in Turin.
Eight of the nine automatic qualifiers for his selection are now known after Jamie Donaldson claimed victory at the Czech Masters.
And Gallacher will take the ninth and final spot ahead of Graeme McDowell - who has dropped out of the Italian Open to attend the birth of his first child - should he win the competition or finish as runner-up.
Even if the Scot achieves that, McDowell would still expect to make McGinley’s team as one of the European captain’s wildcard picks after a recent run of good form that saw him win the French Open and secure four other top-10 finishes.
However, that would leave three Ryder Cup stalwarts who have all failed to qualify - Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood - with only two wildcard entries between them.
Reigning Italian Open champion Julien Quesne returns to Turin and will bid to retain his title, while home fans will hope that one of their own can win the tournament for the first time since Francesco Molinari in 2006.
Both Molinari and his brother Edoardo are expected to be among the frontrunners this week, while four-time European Tour winner Matteo Manassero has missed the cut just three times in 16 appearances this season.
Marco Crespi, meanwhile, returns to compete on home soil for the first time since becoming the oldest rookie to win a European Tour event when the 35-year-old triumphed at the NH Collection Open.
Other notable competitors this week include Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke.