Udinese take on Inter
Champions Inter Milan host high-flying Udinese in the game of the weekend at the San Siro with top spot potentially up for grabs for the winners.
Inter's bitter city rivals AC Milan actually head the championship standings after 10 matches and face a trip to Lecce on Sunday.
The southerners will have to be careful as Milan have been finding some late winners recently, scoring three minutes from time to beat Napoli 1-0 last weekend and three minutes into injury to defeat Sporting Braga in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night.
But all eyes will be on Inter and Udinese's clash as both sides trail Milan by just one point.
Udinese, alongside resurgent Napoli, have been the biggest surprises this season with a potent attack that has mustered a league-leading 19 goals, three more than Inter and four more than Milan.
With Italy internationals Antonio Di Natale, Fabio Quagliarella and Simone Pepe as well as Antonio Floro Flores, they have many options and strength in depth.
But they are not so solid at the back and Inter will provide them with their sternest test of the season.
Their confidence is sky high following a second UEFA Cup group stage win in a row, at Spartak Moscow on Thursday.
Di Natale missed that match but general director Pietro Leonardi is sure he'll be available on Sunday.
"I know he felt a bit better (on Thursday) and I hope that on Sunday he can rejoin the group," he said.
"For the rest everyone will say that Udinese will be a bit tired but seeing the way they played (on Thursday) you wouldn't say so.
"Now we'll think about Inter with the spirit of wanting to give our all. But if they're better than us, we'll accept the result. I am sure we'll play a great match."
Inter boss Jose Mourinho could decide to recall Brazilian forward Adriano to his line-up after leaving him out of the last three squads.
Adriano upset Mourinho by repeatedly turning up late to training but the player's agent revealed earlier in the week that striker and coach have made peace.
The Portuguese boss may also make some changes at the back following Inter's defensive debacle in Tuesday's 3-3 Champions League draw at Cypriot minnows Anorthosis Famagusta.
Argentine centre-back Nicolas Burdisso had a nightmare and was at fault for two goals while although his central partner Marco Materazzi scored, he has rarely been first choice this season.
Christian Chivu may revert to the centre of defence while Walter Samuel is also pushing for a recall.
Milan for their part will likely bring their big guns back for the trip to Lecce having left goalkeeper Christian Abbiati, full-back Gianluca Zambrotta, midfielders Clarence Seedorf and Massimo Ambrosini and forwards Kaka, Ronaldinho and Marco Borriello out of the starting line-up in the UEFA Cup.
They will be looking for an eighth victory in their last nine scudetto matches.
AS Roma will try to arrest their recent Serie A slide as they travel to lowly Bologna, one of two teams to have changed coaches in midweek, alongside Chievo.
Former Roma player Sinisa Mihajlovic will lead Bologna against the capital-based club in his debut as a coach.
Despite losing their last four league matches, Roma showed signs of improvement in Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League victory over Chelsea.
Coach Luciano Spalletti has already confirmed he will stick to the 4-4-2 formation used against the Premier League leaders meaning captain Francesco Totti will be partnered by Montenegro's Mirko Vucnic up front.
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