Second-placed AC Milan host bottom club Reggina Saturday night with David Beckham hoping to extend his loan from the LA Galaxy.
''I want to stay in Milan,'' the England star said unequivocally for the first time after Wednesday's 2-2 friendly draw at Glasgow Rangers.
''I didn't expect to enjoy my time here as much as I have''.
Beckham is savouring top-class soccer again after scoring twice in his five undefeated league starts for the club.
Beckham's lawyers are talking to the Major League Soccer club about getting out of his contract so he can stay in Serie A at least until the summer.
Milan have said they are looking for a loan extension or even an outright buy.
But sources close to the negotiations said Thursday the Galaxy expect Beckham to respect the five-year deal he signed after leaving Real Madrid in 2007.
Milan will again be looking to Kaka and Pato to penetrate the Reggina defence, which has let in 40 goals in 22 games.
After their three in last week's 3-0 win at 10th-placed Lazio - two set up by Beckham - the Brazil duo scored again in the friendly at Hampden Park.
Milan are six points behind leaders Inter Milan which travels to Lecce earlier Saturday.
The Puglia side, which Inter only beat 1-0 at the San Siro earlier in the season, are even harder to beat at home and Inter have doubts with their front line as Julio Cruz is still getting over the flu.
Teen striker Mario Balotelli could partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Stuttering Juventus has slipped to third, a point behind Milan, after defeats to 12th-placed Udinese and 7th-placed Cagliari.
Coach Claudio Ranieri will be under pressure at 13th-placed Catania Sunday but he was boosted by a penalty-shoot-out win in the Italian Cup quarter-finals against 7th-placed Napoli Wednesday.
Napoli performed well against Juve and will be optimistic about their visit to 9th-placed Palermo Sunday night.
Fourth-placed Genoa, three points behind Juve, travel to the Olimpico to face Roma, three points and two places below it in 6th. Roma were lying perilously above the relegation zone when the two sides met in Genoa in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season, which resulted in a 3-1 Genoa win.
Fifth-placed Fiorentina, two points below Genoa, host Lazio which won 3-0 at the Olimpico last autumn.
