Pescara Vs Lazio, Preview: Will The Eagles Sink Or Swim Against The Dolphins?

Underestimate Pescara at your peril! The Serie A newboys have been widely tipped for relegation ever since Zdenek Zeman jumped to Roma in the summer along with several of last year's title winning squad.

A combination of rotten luck and the woodwork didn't do much to alter that theory as Pescara remained pointless after the first four games. However, after picking up seven points from their last three games, Giovanni Stroppa's men have finally turned a corner and registered on the Serie A board.

One of the driving forces behind both victories has been Slovakian winger Vladimir Weiss. The summer signing from Manchester City scored in both games, but a fifth booking of the season against Cagliari rules him out of this game. Joining Weiss in the stands is Damiano Zanon. Combine this with a couple of ill-timed injuries and Stroppa's skeleton squad is down to the bare bones.

Lazio have no such selection worries. If anything, Vladimir Petković is spoilt for choice. Club captain Stefano Mauri and Miroslav Klose were excused from Europa League duty in midweek, but are expected to take their places in the line up at the Stadio Adriatico. Klose's selection will be harsh on Sergio Floccari, after the infrequently seen forward took full advantage of a rare start against Maribor, creating the winning goal and securing his side a penalty.

Ederson is expected to keep his place in the side after netting two goals in as many starts for his new club. Albano Bizzarri will almost certainly hand the goalkeeping gloves back to Federico Marchetti, but Michael Ciani could retain his place in the back four at the expense of Christian Biava.

Francesco Modesto, Alessandro Crescenzi, Uroš Ćosić (Injured)

Modibo Diakite, Cristian Brocchi, Stefan Radu (Injured)