Luigi Del Neri believes Sampdoria's match at Juventus on Wednesday evening will provide a true indicator as to their potential.

The Blucerchiati thrashed Bologna 4-1 over the weekend to remain second in Serie A and just two points adrift of leaders Inter Milan.

"We know that the season is long and it will be very difficult and intense," said Del Neri. "My team has to remain humble.

"On Wednesday, we face a challenging game against a very good side.

"We deserve to be in the top positions of the standings for what we have shown on the pitch in the last nine games.

"But we started this season with a different aim and when hard times come, I want my team to show the same calmness that we have displayed so far.

"All of our results are down to the work done by my players during the week."

Juve go into the midweek encounter two points behind Samp after Sunday's 1-0 win at Siena. The victory was Juve's first since September 19.

Inter are set to welcome their top scorer Diego Milito back to the starting line-up for Thursday's game against fourth-placed Palermo with the Argentinian having shaken off a thigh injury.

The Nerazzurri are chasing their fourth successive win.

Genoa and Fiorentina will battle it out at the Luigi Ferraris stadium with both sides looking to get their campaigns back on track.

Fiorentina have collected just two points in their last three games while the Grifoni will be desperate to avoid their third straight defeat on Wednesday.

Sixth-placed AC Milan will be looking to make it three league wins in a row when they travel to the San Paolo to meet Napoli.

Siena coach Giuseppe Papadopulo will be under pressure to take a result at Bologna after his side dropped to the foot of the table following Sunday's defeat against Juventus.

Strugglers Lazio, who host Cagliari, are looking for their first win since August 30.

Roma need to find a spark in front of goal and hope Mirko Vucinic can end his scoring drought when they take on Udinese at the Friuli Stadium.

Vucinic has yet to find the net this season in the league and with Francesco Totti still sidelined, that has been a major headache for Roma coach Claudio Ranieri.

Livorno host Atalanta in buoyant mood after claiming their first triumph of the campaign at Roma in the last round.

Catania know that anything but a win on Wednesday against Chievo could see them drop into the relegation zone. The Sicilian minnows hold the last position of safety, one point clear of the bottom three.

The game at the Ennio Tardini stadium between Parma and Bari will also be an intriguing encounter between two sides enjoying life in the top flight.

Both teams gained promotion to the top flight this summer but have so far avoided relegation troubles, taking 14 points from their opening nine games.