With Inter Milan having clinched the Italian league title last Sunday, the Rome derby takes center stage in Serie A tomorrow as second-placed Roma take on fierce rivals Lazio.
Roma are 11 points clear of third-placed Lazio and virtually assured of direct entry into next season's Champions League, while their neighbors are looking good for a top-four finish and a place in the third qualifying round of Europe's premier club competition.
Lazio are on 57 points, one ahead of AC Milan and seven clear of fifth-placed Empoli, with five games to go.
Lazio won 3-0 in the first capital derby of the season, and Roma defender Christian Panucci is gunning for revenge.
"We went into the match thinking we were superior and that we would win easily, but this time we won't be so complacent," said the 34-year-old former Italy international. "Lazio were really fired up and they didn't allow us to play, and we became frustrated. That won't happen again on Sunday, we have learned from that experience."
"We want to win to make sure of second place, and because it's the derby," he added.
Roma captain Francesco Totti, Serie A's leading scorer with 21 goals, has a back injury and faces a race against the clock to be fit in time for tomorrow's match.
"If he doesn't make it, the rest of us will have to work twice as hard," Panucci said.
Security at Rome's Olympic stadium, where a crowd of around 65,000 is expected, will be tight given the history of violence between Roma and Lazio fans.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is likely to rotate his squad for today's trip to Torino with one eye fixed firmly on their crunch Champions League semi-final, second leg against Manchester United on Wednesday.
United won Tuesday's first leg at Old Trafford 3-2, but with two precious away goals Milan will fancy their chances of reaching the Athens final.
Milan are in fourth place on 56 points and still have some work to do if they are to claim a spot in the third qualifying round of next season's Champions League.
Down at the basement, Ascoli and Messina look set for the second division while above them eight sides are battling to stay up.
Even Livorno in 11th place are embroiled in the relegation dogfight, with the Tuscan club just five points clear of the drop zone.
Inter host Empoli in tomorrow's late match at the San Siro which is likely to turn into a Scudetto celebration as the champions play in front of their home fans for the first time after securing the championship at Siena last week.
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