Atalanta coach Antonio Conte believes it is only a matter of time before his team pick up their first Serie A win of the season.

Few Bergamaschi fans could have expected their side to have had such a poor start to the campaign, having shown in the past two seasons what a competitive side they were.

However, the sale of top striker Sergio Floccari to Genoa and the departure of coach Luigi Del Neri to Sampdoria in the summer left big voids for a team that finished in a respectable 11th position last term.

Four defeats and three draws in seven games have condemned Atalanta to 19th spot in the standings, level on three points with bottom side Livorno.

Atalanta have avoided defeat since Conte replaced the sacked Angelo Gregucci last month, though, and showed signs of improvement by holding AC Milan to a 1-1 draw in the last round of matches before the international break.

And the former Bari tactician is optimistic his team will soon claim their first victory of the campaign.

"My players showed great will and character against AC Milan," he said.

"I have confidence in my players. I believe we are improving game by game and that our efforts will soon be rewarded."

The Bergamaschi's last victory on the road was a 1-0 triumph at Lazio on April 26.

To add to their woes, Conte has suffered a big blow with striker Robert Acquafresca ruled out for a month.

Acquafresca sustained a left thigh injury during training this week and tests confirmed he will miss Atalanta's next four matches.

Conte will be hoping attacking duo Simone Tiribocchi and Cristiano Doni can deliver in front of goal, with Atalanta having struck just three times this season.

Udinese will fancy their chances, having shown few weaknesses when playing at home.

The Bianconeri have collected seven of a possible nine points at the Stadio Friuli and go into tomorrow's game eager to bounce back from their painful defeat at Inter Milan last time out.

A last-gasp goal by Wesley Sneijder inflicted a second defeat of the campaign on Udinese.

Striker Bernardo Corradi believes his team must learn from their mistakes if they are to make an impact in Serie A this season.

"We are disappointed," he said. "We thought we had secured a draw.

"We were unlucky to concede with seconds to go in the game but we must learn.

"We have to be smarter and try to polish our defects in order to play better football."

Udinese coach Pasquale Marino will have to do without striker Antonio Floro Flores, who serves a one-match ban.

Corradi is set to replace Floro Flores and partner Serie A's top scorer Antonio Di Natale up front. Di Natale has struck nine goals so far this campaign.

The visitors will be without suspended Serbian midfielder Ivan Radovanovic.