The mood in the two camps could not be more different with Inter, who at one stage were one point behind leaders Juventus, in a slump and their rivals on a high after Wednesday's 2-0 win in the Champions League.
Milan have also enjoyed a resurgence in the league, helped greatly by the signing of maverick striker Balotelli who has scored four goals in three games since his move from Manchester City.
The wildly unpredictable "Super Mario" will be facing the club where he spent four seasons and made his top-flight debut.
Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni has emerged victorious from both his previous meetings with AC Milan and badly needs a third win to rescue his side's season.
Former youth team coach Stramaccioni was promoted to Inter coach late last term and their 4-2 win over Milan ended their rivals' hopes of winning the title. They also won this season's first meeting 1-0.
"The good and bad thing about being coach of Inter is that this pressure is on me from the first day I took charge of this great team," said Stramaccioni, whose side must first visit Romania for a Europa League tie in Cluj on Thursday.
"If a coach at this level thinks about these things, then he is finished before he even begins," added the 37-year-old.
"There is a lot of pressure, as we lost 4-1 on Sunday and it's only normal to be criticised, but I think we will do well against Cluj and in the Derby. We will go forward.
"The club is working on the renewal of the team and this is only the first year of that process."
Three temporary stands were built on the other sides of the pitch but the side's opening match against Atalanta was staged behind closed doors after local authorities ruled that it was not ready.
