Lazio will be without a pair of key players for the crucial trip to Napoli on Saturday as coach Edy Reja looks to put one over his former employers.
Lazio sit behind leaders Udinese on goal difference and face a stern test of their title credentials in Naples this weekend.
And they will have to make do without hot-shot Miroslav Klose as well as defender Andre Dias.
The loss of Klose, with a severely bruised leg, is most damaging for the capital club as he was on fire in Germany's 3-0 victory against Holland in midweek, scoring one and setting up both the other goals.
He is the club's top scorer with eight goals in 13 matches in all competitions and Reja certainly would have been counting on the German for the trip to the club he brought back into Serie A in 2007.
However, the journey to Naples holds painful memories for Lazio, who lost 4-3 there last season.
"The first thing that comes to mind is the goal that wasn't and, even more bitterly, the defeat that prevented us from playing in a great competition, the Champions League," said Lazio's veteran midfielder Cristian Brocchi.
"That's two bad memories. Had we won, Napoli would have been fighting to the end with us."
That victory for Napoli helped ensure they snatched third place and automatic qualification for the Champions League group stages.
Lazio, on the other hand, went on to lose out to Udinese for fourth spot and had to settle for Europa League football this season.
Napoli striker Edinson Cavani claims Lazio are favourites but Brocchi is paying no attention to that.
"It's normal, it's more comfortable for them to say that but what's important is how we approach the game in a fiery stadium," he said.
Winning is crucial for Napoli who trail their opponents by seven points, albeit with a game in hand, and cannot afford to slip any further behind in the title race.
For Inter Milan, success is even more vital. They remain fourth from bottom, only a point above the relegation zone, although they too have a game in hand.
Inter host Cagliari on Saturday looking to transform their European form to the league.
They have won three out of four matches in the Champions League but won only two -- while losing five -- in nine at home.
"We have to return to being protagonists, we have to concentrate on Cagliari and to get as many points as possible before Christmas," said Inter captain Javier Zanetti.
"We have to approach every match in the best way to earn three points. We know it won't be easy but the pitch will do the talking."
Elsewhere champions AC Milan go in search of a sixth consecutive league win as they travel to Fiorentina, who sacked coach Sinisa Mihajlovic after their last match.
'La Viola' are right in the middle of a congested mid-table in which sixth placed Napoli are only two points above Parma in 15th but Mihajlovic's efforts did little to convince the Fiorentina hierarchy.
The only unbeaten team in the league is Juventus, who entertain a Palermo side which has only one point and no goals on their travels this season.
Leaders Udinese travel to Parma while rock bottom Cesena go in search of their first win, away to Bologna.
Fixtures:
Saturday
Inter Milan v Cagliari (1700 GMT), Fiorentina v AC Milan (1945 GMT), Napoli v Lazio (1945 GMT)
Sunday (1400 GMT unless stated)
Bologna v Cesena (1130 GMT), Catania v Chievo, Genoa v Novara, Juventus v Palermo, Parma v Udinese, Siena v Atalanta, Roma v Lecce (1945 GMT)
Source: AFP
