On-form Chievo host struggling Udinese at the Stadio Bentegodi on Sunday and Rolando Maran’s side will be looking to continue the surge that has lifted them out of relegation trouble.
The Flying Donkeys were in serious danger of dropping into the relegation zone before a run of three wins in four matches has lifted them above the visiting Zebrette into 13th place and 13 points off the drop zone.
Coach Rolando Maran has overseen a superb run in which Chievo have been beaten once in six matches and conceded only one goal during that run.
Last week the Gialloblu recorded a vital 1-0 win over Cesena in which they struggled in periods, but got the win thanks to a goal from veteran Sergio Pellisier on his 36th birthday.
Udinese, on the other hand, are without a win since the beginning of March and will want to avoid dropping any further down the Serie A standings.
The 3-1 defeat to Palermo last weekend marked the first defeat for Andrea Stramaccioni’s side in their last five matches, but they have found wins hard to come by.
In fact, Udinese have recorded only two wins in 2015 and have gradually slid down the table after beginning the season strongly and with aspirations of European qualification.
When these two sides met at the Stadio Friuli in November, the result was a 1-1 draw after goals from Antonio Di Natale and Ivan Radovanovic.
The home side will have to make do without the injured Federico Mattiello and Ezequiel Schelotto but otherwise have a full-strength squad available for selection.
The visitors have slightly more serious concerns as Brazilian midfielder Guilherme is suspended and Thomas Heurtaux, Maurizio Domizzi and Lucas Evangelista are all ruled out with injury problems.
There is currently only one point separating the teams in the table, meaning that a win for the Zebrette would see them leapfrog their hosts.
Form Guide: Chievo (W-L-W-W-D), Udinese (L-L-D-D-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Chievo: Bizzarri; Frey, Dainelli, Cesar, Zukanovic; Birsa, Radovanovic, Izco, Hetemaj; Meggiorini, Paloschi
Udinese: Karnezis; Wague, Danilo, Piris; Widmer, Allan, Pinzi, Badu, Gabriel Silva; Thereau, Di Natale
