Inter veteran Ivan Cordoba is eager to make his competitive return against Catania on Saturday night as Serie A goes into its second weekend.
''I'm very happy to be back,'' said the Colombia defender who came through last week's friendly against Swiss side Locarno seven months after suffering a bad knee injury - and even managed one of his trademark power-headed goals.
Cordoba, 35, is set to be reunited with centre-back partner Marco Materazzi for the first time since the Champions League defeat to Liverpool in February that doomed ex-manager Roberto Mancini.
'Matrix' got two harsh yellow cards after half an hour but Cordoba rallied the defence superbly until he twisted his cruciate ligaments after a characteristically daring challenge.
Materazzi has fallen out of Italy coach Marcello Lippi's reckoning after a poor Euro 2008 and will be hoping the return of his old comrade will help him get his international place back.
Inter will be without midfielder Dejan Stankovic who strained a ligament in Serbia's 2-1 World Cup qualifier loss to France Wednesday, but should have striker Mario Balotelli available after an injury scare and could also see Patrick Vieira return.
The Inter-Catania match is the second of two top-billed matches on Saturday, after Roma travel to Palermo.
Both Inter and Roma, who featured in Serie A's closest race for years last season, will be looking to pick up the pace after opening day draws against Sampdoria and Napoli respectively.
Roma will be boosted by the form of midfielder Daniele De Rossi who got both goals in Italy's 2-0 defeat of Croatia in Udine Wednesday.
But captain Francesco Totti may not make the match after pulling up in training Wednesday with pain in the knee he had cruciate surgery on in April.
Among Sunday's top-drawer matches, out-of-sorts AC Milan travel to Genoa with Brazil star Kaka' back from injury.
Kaka' was the only positive note in Wednesday's 2-0 friendly defeat by Swiss second-division outfit Lugano that confirmed their overall woes.
Milan are hoping to hand ex-Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos his first start in a bid for a stiffer defensive showing than in their shock 2-1 loss at home to newly promoted Bologna on the first day of the season.
Ex-Barcelona star Ronaldinho will be looking to reprise his fine performance against Genoa, where he shook off his recent rustiness to showily lay on several chances, but may have been dismayed by the lack-lustre display against Lugano of his young international partner Alexandre Pato.
Juventus, who also drew on Day One, should have David Trezeguet back from injury at home to Udinese who are flying high thanks to Italy star Antonio Natale, two-goal hero in their 3-1 defeat of Palermo last time out.
Fiorentina travel to Napoli with Romania star Adrian Muti expected to start with his elbow strapped after he injured it in training with his national squad last month.
Lazio entertain Sampdoria, who held Inter in the season opener, hoping to repeat the strong display that brought them the biggest win on Day One, 4-1 away at Cagliari.
