Fourth last term, Samp started the campaign in the Champions League qualifiers but lost to Werder Bremen and the season has continued on a downward spiral ever since.
The former European Cup finalists, who once boasted stellar names like Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini among their ranks, lie third from bottom with two games remaining and are two points adrift of safety.
"We practically reached mid-way though the season with a decent amount of points and no one expected this," defender Stefano Lucchini told reporters.
"We then went through lots of games thinking that we would arrest the slide the next Sunday. By doing this, Sunday after Sunday, we probably didn't understand the mess we were getting into."
Palermo no longer need to win the game to boost their hopes of Europa League soccer via their league position because they have already secured their spot in Europe's second tier competition courtesy of reaching the Italian Cup final.
Udinese go to Chievo hoping to consolidate the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot on Sunday while new champions AC Milan will hold a San Siro party for Saturday's game against coach Massimiliano Allegri's former side Cagliari.
