Struggling Roma are seeking a boost from charismatic skipper Francesco Totti for Sunday night's big match against Serie A champions and leaders Inter.
''Francesco's coming along nicely,'' coach Luciano Spalletti said after Totti scored two goals in a training kickabout.
He hinted that the club talisman, who has been badly missed as last year's runners-up lost three of their first six games, would at least make the bench for Sunday's showdown.
Roma are six points behind joint leaders Inter, Udinese and Lazio, on just seven points.
Defender Massimo Tonetto will probably be back from injury, shoring up a defence that will be without the suspended Philippe Mexes and Christian Panucci, but midfielder David Pizzarro won't recover in time, Spalletti indicated.
However, the Roma midfield will be on a high after Italy's 2-1 World Cup qualifying win against Montenegro where Alberto Aquilani, who has been subdued for a while, put in an aggressive display crowned by both goals.
Daniele De Rossi also impressed again and was unlucky not to get a third goal.
Clubmate Mirko Vucinic shone for Montenegro, scoring their goal and threatening more.
For Inter, winger Mancini can expect a roasting from the Olimpico faithful after his move from Rome to Milan in the summer.
Inter have injury worries for midfielder Patrick Veira and another ex-Roma star, defender Christian Chivu.
But both are more probables than possibles, club sources say.
NAPOLI-JUVE, MILAN-SAMP, BOLOGNA-LAZIO, LECCE-UDINESE.
The other big match is on Saturday night as Napoli host Juventus at a San Paolo ground that will be far cooler than the usual cauldron because of the hooligan-related closure of the stadium ends.
Juve has hit a rocky patch after a strong start and is two points below Napoli (11 points) on nine points.
Its hopes of beating Napoli's lively side have been knocked by injuries to goalie Gianluigi Buffon and winger Mauro Camoranesi.
AC Milan, on ten points, host Sampdoria (4) on Sunday with Kaka' fired-up to help Ronaldinho's return to fitness after impressing for Brazil in midweek.
But Milan will again have problems at the back with Philippe Senderos still out and Alessandro Nesta unlikely to return despite playing half of Wednesday's friendly in Albania.
Ex-Italy star Antonio Cassano will be bidding to boost a misfiring Samp attack that has only scored four goals in its six games.
Lazio (13 points) travel to Bologna (3) with Mauro Zarate eager to recover his scoring touch after last week's frustrating game against Lecce.
Udinese (13 points) go to Lecce (8) with Italy forwards Antonio Di Natale, Simone Pepe and Fabio Quagliarella buoyed by the Montenegro win but also perhaps a little tired.
Fiorentina (10 points) get the weekend action going with a home game against Reggina (2), without their injured striker Adrian Mutu.
In the other matches, Palermo (12) travel to Catania (11) in a Sicilian derby where the hosts, almost relegated last term, have revived their fortunes under coach Walter Zenga.
Chievo (5) host Atalanta (12), Genoa (9) entertain Siena (8), and Torino welcome bottom-club Cagliari (1).
