Inter, who lost their third game of the league season at Napoli on Sunday, looked stone cold certainties for a fourth straight title last month but nerves could again be on show for Saturday's home game with Lazio.
Inter coach Jose Mourinho's famous taunt that Milan would win "zero titles" this season could come back to haunt him.
"I would like to think that in a few weeks, Mourinho will regret talking about the zero titles of Milan even if at the time it was difficult for us to dream of the scudetto," Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini told a news conference.
When Milan lost 2-1 to Inter in February they slipped 11 points behind the leaders and seemed all but out of the title race.
KAKA FAITH
Adriano, who recently left Inter because of personal problems, scored a controversial goal with his arm in that derby and Milan fans must now wonder what might have been had the effort been disallowed.
Kaka, fully recovered from a number of niggles, is keeping the faith despite a seven-point gap looking huge at this stage of the season. Inter, though, let an 11-point lead get whittled down to one last season under Roberto Mancini.
"While it is mathematically possible, we have to believe," the Brazil playmaker said earlier this week.
Carlo Ancelotti's side are in stunning form, despite constant speculation about his future, while Inter are beginning to look tired.
The absences of Adriano and the injured Maicon have restricted Mourinho's options and the suspensions of Dejan Stankovic and Mario Balotelli for the Lazio game do not help.
Midfielder Sulley Muntari should recover from injury though.
Stuttering Juventus in third host relegation-threatened Lecce on Sunday with the game due to be played behind closed doors after fans racially abused Balotelli in the recent 1-1 draw with Inter.
The Turin side are appealing the decision a second time.
Fifth-placed Genoa have a tough examination of their Champions League credentials when they meet city rivals Sampdoria on Sunday.
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