The Man Down singer will perform for the contestants, but then the hopefuls will be asked to follow her on stage and audition for the judges again, according to British newspaper the Daily Star Sunday.
An insider said: 'It's very nerve-racking for the contestants but great viewing for the audience at home. Who could follow Rihanna and be confident? This will definitely weed out the good from the bad.'
The Barbadian beauty's performance on the show last year prompted 2,868 complaints to Ofcom from viewers unhappy with her raunchy routine, which they claimed was unacceptable for a pre- watershed broadcast.
The source added: 'They're desperate to bring the show in with a bang this year and Rihanna is definitely their wild card. It's going to be a massive gamble given last year's controversy but it's absolutely worth it.'