Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni is bidding to bring his blistering Bundesliga scoring touch to Italy's key Euro 2008 qualifier at home to Georgia on Saturday.
"I have to say I'm very happy with my form," Toni said Thursday at the final training session for the Saturday night game in Genoa.
Toni is joint top scorer in the German league with eight strikes from nine games and has also scored in both of Bayern's UEFA Cup games.
His knack of scoring first in most games has earned him the nickname Tie-Breaker.
Toni, who returns against Georgia after two injury-enforced absences in the so-called 'Group of Death', voiced confidence he will continue to receive the good service he has enjoyed at Bayern.
"I'm scoring so many goals (for Bayern) because I've got a team that puts me in a position to do so. It's going to be that way for Italy too".
Toni said his likely strike partner Vincenzo Iaquinta was a lot like Bayern front-man Miroslav Klose, who has also scored eight goals - largely thanks to the pair's intimidating joint presence.
"Miroslav isn't just a centre-forward, he's strong everywhere, and Vincenzo, too, is one of the few forwards who can play in different positions".
Toni's impact in Germany is one of the reasons Azzurri legend Gigi Riva recently anointed the Bayern striker as Italy's best centre-forward of recent years.
"Riva's rating was a massive high because he's Italy's all-time top scorer," Toni said.
Toni has 12 goals from 28 games and with a good few years hopefully left must hope to get up close to Del Piero, joint fourth in the rankings on 27 goals, the same as Roberto Baggio, and Inzaghi, joint sixth with 25.
Italy is second in Group B, a point behind buoyant leaders Scotland and one ahead of faltering France.
However, the Genoa match is a must-win clash for Roberto Donadoni's men.
Scotland's shock win in Paris last month was the worst possible outcome for the Azzurri mathematically.
It means that they may have to win all three of their remaining fixtures, including a showdown in Glasgow next month.
Against Georgia, Toni is set to play alongside Iaquinta, who has recovered from a swollen knee, and Udinese's Antonio Di Natale, who scored twice in Italy's 2-1 win in Ukraine last month.
Donadoni has dropped Juve's out-of-sorts skipper Alessandro Del Piero and fellow veteran Filippo Inzaghi of Milan, sparking speculation their time in the blue shirt may be coming to an end.
Del Piero is 33 and has reportedly had to lower pay demands to secure a contract extension at his club.
Inzaghi is one year older and, even though he was as sharp as ever until a very recent slump, many think his SuperPippo days are numbered.
Asked about the over-the-hill fuss, 30-year-old Toni said "I'm a bit surprised because I'm one of the oldest too. The youngsters should wait a while, I reckon".
Another of Italy's glories, captain Fabio Cannavaro, is suspended for Saturday while fellow defenders Gianluca Zambrotta and Marco Materazzi are out with injuries.
Luckily, Juve utility back Giorgio Chiellini passed a fitness test Thursday and is a possible replacement for any of the back four: Massimo Oddo, Christian Panucci, Andrea Barzagli and Fabio Grosso.
The AC Milan midfield trio of Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini, so impressive against Ukraine, is virtually certain to be confirmed.
Georgia, second from last in the group and with no chance of qualifying, go into the match amid an injury crisis.
The absence of injured Milan defender Kakha Kaladze will be the most keenly felt, but Georgia's German coach Klaus Toppmoeller is also without winger Davit Mujiri and striker Davit Siradze
Giorgi Demetradze of Ukraine side Metalurg Donetsk is likely to be the danger man.
After the Scotland match on November 17, Italy's last match is a November 21 home game against the Faroe Islands.
It is viewed as a formality despite Italy's nervous 2-1 win there in June - when Inzaghi spared Italy's blushes by scoring both goals.
