Both sides have enjoyed an upturn in form generally this season and are well in the hunt for a European spot after recent seasons which have seen them mired in either mid-table obscurity or relegation dogfights.
Genoa currently sit ahead of Samp on goal difference and come into the derby on the back of successive league wins, while Sinisa Mihajlovic's side have not won in four matches.
However, Sinisa Mihajlovic's side did win their first meeting - when they were the designated away team - this season 1-0, and the Serb will hope having the crowd in their favour can help turn their form around.
Fiorentina and Lazio respectively host two other sides in the top-five hunt – Torino and Palermo - in what looks to be an intriguing weekend for the top half.
Napoli have closed the gap to Roma in recent weeks but a 3-1 loss at Palermo dented their progress last weekend - Sassuolo are Monday's visitors to the San Paolo as Rafa Benitez's men look to get back on track.
