AS Roma is hoping to get into Serie A's Champions League qualification zone by doing what Manchester United couldn't this week and beating Inter Milan at San Siro on Sunday night.
Roma, runners-up the last two years, had a dismal start to the season, losing six of their first nine games including a 4-0 drubbing by leaders and champs Inter.
But a return to form has lifted them into sixth place, 16 points behind Inter, and they may well have strikers Mirko Vucinic and Jeremy Menez back in the mix against Jose' Mourinho's side.
The Roma attack was toothless at Arsenal in midweek and the Giallorossi went down to a 1-0 loss in their Champions League last 16 first leg without getting a shot on goal.
Francesco Totti, usually so inspirational, looked a shadow of himself but was clearly carrying the after-effects of a recent injury.
The iconic skipper is expected to be back to his best against Inter.
But if things look better up front, the defence will still be without stand-out Brazil centreback Juan as it faces the threat of Adriano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The bulky Brazilian and the hulking Swede were not at their best in the goalless draw with Man Utd but Mourinho is hoping for the kind of intimidating performances which have become routine as Inter has built up a nine-point lead over Juventus.
Inter central defenders Walter Samuel and Marco Materazzi are unavailable through injury but 18-year-old fullback Davide Santon, who coped well with European Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday, may get another chance to shine.
Juventus, who lost 1-0 at Chelsea on Wednesday, host tenth-placed Napoli on Saturday night with fire in their belly after a gritty performance in London that perhaps deserved a draw.
Winger Mauro Camoranesi has been ruled out after picking up another knock in an injury-plagued season but David Trezeguet, who only played the last six minutes at Chelsea, could have more time to rediscover his scoring touch.
Third-placed AC Milan, two points behind Juve, travel to 14th-placed Sampdoria on Sunday afternoon after Thursday night's UEFA Cup match against Werder Bremen, where they will be hoping to advance from the first leg's 1-1 draw.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina, who need to overturn a 1-0 deficit in their UEFA tie at Ajax, visit last-placed Reggina on Sunday while fifth-placed Genoa, a point below Fiorentina and a point above Roma, go to 15th-placed Siena.
Udinese (12th), host 18th-placed Lecce after Thursday's home game against Lech Poznan (2-2 in the first leg).
Other matches this weekend (team position in brackets):
Lazio (10th) - Bologna (16th) (Saturday 17:00 GMT)
Atalanta (8th) - Chievo (19th)
Cagliari (7th) - Torino (16th)
Palermo (8th) - Catania (13th)
