Italy jetted into Kiev Tuesday for a key Euro 2008 qualifier against Ukraine with several question marks over coach Roberto Donadoni's options.
Injury niggles for playmaker Andrea Pirlo, flanker Gianluca Zambrotta and central midfielder Daniele De Rossi are the least of Donadoni's problems.
All three are expected to make Wednesday night's match even if they have to be patched up, team observers said.
A bigger headache is who to field up front in the injury-enforced absence of the feared Luca Toni, after Italy's failure to ask many questions of the France defence in a hard-fought nil-nil draw between the 2006 World Cup finalists at the San Siro Saturday.
Pundits say Alessandro Del Piero could be out of the mix after looking strangely blunted against the highly experienced French.
Donadoni will be looking for more penetration against a Ukraine back four who are regarded as vulnerable against fast moves.
This gives Del Piero's new Juve companion Vincenzo Iaquinta a much higher chance of starting the game, pundits say - probably served from the wings by Mauro Camoranesi and Antonio Di Natale.
Donadoni could also opt for a heftier option in Cristian Lucarelli to hold the ball up for others like Simone Perrotta, Fabio Quagliarella or even De Rossi to come through and have a pop from midfield, Italy watchers think.
Lucarelli, who now plays his club football for three-time Ukraine champs Shakhtar Donetsk, has alerted his Italy team-mates not to expect anything less than 100% from Ukraine despite its disappointing draw against Georgia Saturday.
"They'll be going all out. They want to beat the world champs," Lucarelli said, noting that Oleg Blokhin's men also have troubled Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko bidding to prove a point against his former AC Milan team-mates.
Italy are third in their group, two points behind group leaders France.
Scotland is second, a point behind the French after beating Lithuania on Saturday.
Ukraine are fourth, four points behind Italy, but have a game in hand and have not yet given up hope of claiming one of the two qualification spots.
But most pundits believe Italy's qualification quest will ultimately hinge on their final match on November 17 in Scotland.
If the Azzurri win that one they should be sure of going through alongside France, experts say.
The French can do their old rivals a big favour if they get three points against the Scots at the Parc des Princes Wednesday.
France will be bidding for revenge for the biggest upset in the Euro 2008 campaign, their 1-0 defeat in Glasgow last October.
