Genoa vs Inter Milan, Preview: One last push required from Genoa

The Grifone are four points ahead of Palermo and six clear from Siena. While a loss could still keep Genoa safe, Davide Ballardini will still want a win to make it a certainty and deflect some of the media scrutiny that have linked Zdenek Zeman with his job.

The hosts are unbeaten in their last five, having picked up nine points from a possible 15. In contrast, Inter's pair of 3-1 defeats last week to Napoli and Lazio means they have lost seven out of their last nine games and have registered their worst number of losses in a Serie A campaign with 15.

Andrea Stramaccioni still has a massive selection crisis on his hands. Although Yuto Nagatomo and Antonio Cassano are back in the squad after being out for a month, Jonathan is absent with a dislocated shoulder, while defensive pair Alvaro Pereira and Juan Jesus are both suspended.

Cristian Chivu is also missing from the squad, but Andrea Ranocchia is expected to continue playing through the pain barrier, despite carrying several knocks and being withdrawn early in the second half during the midweek loss to Lazio. To compensate for a lack of defenders, Stramaccioni is expected to put his faith in his Primavera squad and play Esteban Cambiasso out of position.

Cesare Bovo and Cristobal Jorquera join injured trio Damiano Ferronetti, Marco Rossi and Ruben Olivera on the Genoa sidelines. Slovenian playmaker Juraj Kucka came through 70 minutes of the midweek stalemate at Torino and is expected to retain his place.

Inter Milan injuries and suspensions

Out: Luca Castellazzi, Matias Silvestre, Cristian Chivu, Ibrahima Mbaye, Javier Zanetti, Jonathan, Walter Samuel, Dejan Stankovic, Joel Obi, Gaby Mudingayi, Walter Gargano, Diego Milito, Rodrigo Palacio, (injured) Alvaro Pereira, Juan Jesus (suspended)