A rare shining light in Serbia's shock 3-1 home defeat by Estonia on Friday, recent Juve buy Krasic will come up against club friend but defensive tough nut Giorgio Chiellini in the Euro 2012 Group C qualifying match in Genoa.
"We hope he gets a cold," Chiellini, back to form after suffering during the Azzurri's woeful World Cup, told reporters.
"Juve coach Luigi Del Neri has told us Juventus players to show some caution when we meet him because Juve need him. But if I need to give him a whack, I won't stop myself."
Krasic could face two Juve centre-backs if Leonardo Bonucci recovers from a blow to the foot sustained in Friday's patchy 0-0 draw in Northern Ireland, which still kept Italy top of the group with seven points from three games given Serbia's defeat.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli could give Palermo's Cesare Bovo his first cap if Bonucci is not fit but is unlikely to radically alter Friday's side despite the lack of cutting edge, with Marco Borriello hoping to cling on to the striker's jersey.
"To score we need a bit more nastiness, which we're lacking. But I've seen a squad with personality," Prandelli said.
"We meet a wounded team and I would have preferred it wasn't like that, Serbia's defeat makes the game more complicated. But the plan is not to make substantial changes."
FRESH BLOOD
Serbia, who lie fourth with four points from three games, have bigger problems with centre back Nemanja Vidic suspended after picking up a second yellow card in the Estonia loss.
Coach Vladimir Petrovic, who suffered a baptism of fire in his first game in charge after taking over from Radomir Antic last month, said he would inject fresh blood into the side.
"We'll have to reshuffle and we'll go to Italy confident and with our heads up as it's the only way to bounce back," he said.
Krasic, who has worried Italian defences with his direct running during his two months in Serie A, agreed with his coach.
"We are up against a top level team and unless we are fully focused on the task ahead, we have no chance of getting something out of that game," the blond midfielder said.
"We are still a good team and I am certain we will raise our game to the best of our abilities for the Italians."
Captain Dejan Stankovic, who has spent 12 years in Italian football with Lazio and present club Inter Milan, added: "We had a very bad day against the Estonians but when the going gets tough, the tough get going and that's what we have to do."
Zoran Tosic could start on the left wing instead of Milan Jovanovic while Ivan Obradovic should fill the left back slot instead of Marko Lomic, who struggled on Friday.
Probable teams:
Italy: Emiliano Viviano; Mattia Cassani, Cesare Bovo, Giorgio Chiellini, Domenico Criscito; Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo, Stefano Mauri; Simone Pepe, Marco Borriello, Antonio Cassano
