Juventus centre back Nicola Legrottaglie is suspended for Sunday's home game with AC Milan so Olof Mellberg is expected to partner Giorgio Chiellini.
Juve, joint second with Milan, are still without injury victims David Trezeguet, Gianluigi Buffon, Christian Poulsen and Tiago but midfielder Cristiano Zanetti may play after making his first start this term in Wednesday's 0-0 draw with BATE Borisov.
Mohamed Sissoko returns from a Champions League suspension and Alessandro Del Piero will start having been rested on the bench in midweek.
Milan must rejig their midfield with Gennaro Gattuso, who would have been suspended anyway, probably out for the season with knee ligament damage.
Defenders Daniele Bonera and Alessandro Nesta are also injured alongside striker Marco Borriello.
Leaders Inter Milan, six points clear of their two rivals, could be without striker Adriano for Sunday's visit of bottom side Chievo after media reports said the unfit Brazilian had again been sent home from training by coach Jose Mourinho.
Right back Maicon is also not fully fit, media reports said, while centre back Marco Materazzi is out after having surgery on a broken cheekbone.
Napoli coach Edy Reja, whose side lie fourth, must decide whether to bring back goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo after back problems or stick with Nicolas Navarro for Saturday's home game with Lecce.
AS Roma aim to continue their rise up the table in Sunday's home clash with Cagliari but in-form Matteo Brighi is suspended and fellow midfielders Rodrigo Taddei and Alberto Aquilani are injured. David Pizarro could come into the reckoning.
Walter Novellino takes the reins of Torino for the first game of his second spell in charge when they visit fellow strugglers Bologna on Saturday.
Bologna have drawn all five games under new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.
