Siena vs. Fiorentina, Preview: Viola could send their Tuscan rivals into Serie B

After three consecutive defeats, Siena's miraculous escape has ground to a halt. They've fallen five points adrift of safety, and the plucky robur look like they've run out of luck. With this match followed up by meetings with Napoli and AC Milan, their chances of survival are virtually nil.

For their Tuscan rivals Fiorentina to put them out of their misery on Wednesday may, therefore, be the kindest thing to do. The viola will be just as desperate for a victory, as they look to keep themselves in contention for a Champions League finish. They were suckerpunched 1-0 against Roma in their last match, meaning they need to overhaul a four-point deficit to Milan if they're to make the top three.

If Vincenzo Montella's side to win at the Montepaschi Arena, it would only take a win for Genoa at Torino to send Siena into Serie B, a couple of years after they won promotion. After they hired Beppe Iachini and picked up Innocent Emeghara on loan in January, it looked like Siena had found the formula which would keep them in Serie A. But, lately their goals have dried up, and and relegation seems sadly inevitable.

They're without Carlos Matheu through injury, while Felipe -- who's on loan from Fiorentina -- is unavailable through suspension. Fiorentina have Michele Camporese, Alberto Aquilani and Mohamed Sissoko injured, while Nenad Tomović and Adem Ljajić -- two of the viola's most important players this season -- are both suspended.

It's worth looking out for Giuseppe Rossi, who's been included in one of Montella's squads for the first time. The striker has been out with a long-term injury since joining from Villarreal in January, though probably won't be able to provide the sprinkling of magic dust offered up by Ljajić so often this season. Given that he's been out for so long, it's feasible that he'll just spend his evening on the bench.