Sampdoria coach Luigi Del Neri is expecting a warm welcome when he returns to take on former team Atalanta tomorrow.

Del Neri turned down a contract extension with the Bergamo-based outfit this summer to join Samp having guided the team to Serie A safety for a second consecutive year.

"I will feel many emotions," admitted Del Neri. "I owe a lot to Atalanta, I spent two wonderful years there and I have great memories of my time in Bergamo.

"The club allowed me to get back on my feet and the city of Bergamo offered me an ideal atmosphere to coach.

"I left the club on good terms and I will meet them as friends."

Del Neri, who gained fame by steering Chievo to the top flight in 2001 and securing a UEFA Cup berth, joined Atalanta in the summer of 2007 after disappointing spells at FC Porto, Roma and Palermo.

He led the Bergamaschi to a ninth-place finish in his first campaign in charge and came close last term to equalling the club's 50-point record in the top flight set in the 2006-07 campaign.

Since landing in Genoa, Del Neri has proved a big hit.

For the last three campaigns Samp failed to get a win in their opening four games but Del Neri has changed that trend.

Samp won 2-1 at Catania in their Serie A opener before surprising Udinese 3-1 to preserve their perfect record.

The Blucerchiati are level on six points with Juventus, Lazio and city neighbours Genoa.

A draw at the Stadio Olimpico between Lazio and Juve could see the two Genoa-based clubs lead the standings, provided they win their respective games.

"It's early days to say what this team can do," said Del Neri. "But one thing is certain, Genoa and Samp's current position in the standings is no fluke.

"We deserve to be in the position we are."

While Samp have enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign, that has not been the case for Atalanta, who have yet to claim their first point.

Under new coach Angelo Gregucci, the Bergamaschi slumped to their second straight defeat of the campaign with a 1-0 loss against Genoa last time out.

Atalanta have struggled in front of goal and will be desperate to score their first of the season tomorrow.

But Gregucci knows his team must make drastic improvements if they are to upset Samp.

"We are very predictable right now," he said. "We need to play faster and try to give ourselves more goalscoring opportunities.

"We need to give more support up front to Robert Acquafresca."

Despite their poor start, Atalanta defender Tomas Manfredini believes his team can kickstart their season against mighty Samp.

"We struggled to get results in our last two games but we put in two good performances," he said. "I am optimistic that we can get a positive result against Samp."