One point enough for Italy but Lippi wants more

Coach Marcello Lippi is demanding more than the bare minimum today even though Italy need just a point against Slovenia to qualify for next year's World Cup finals.

Lippi's team lead Group Five by five points and have the better of the head-to-head calculations against Norway.

So even if Italy slip up in Palermo against Slovenia, a point against last-placed Moldova in Lecce on Wednesday should be enough.

"It would be a mistake to consider this match simply a formality," said Lippi. "We have two aims against Slovenia - first to get the point that we need to reach Germany and then for the team to show some step forwards in their development. They have yet to realise their own strength."

Italy need no reminding that Slovenia are a team to take seriously - Lippi's side lost 1-0 when the teams met in Celje a year ago and their last meeting on Italian soil ended in a 1-0 reverse in a friendly in August 2002.

"They are tough opponents and a very physical side," said centre-half Alessandro Nesta who will line up alongside Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of the defence.

Slovenia, without strikers Nastja Ceh (suspended) and Klemen Lavric (knee injury), are equal on 12 points with Norway, who play Moldova.

Fiorentina forward Luca Toni, who scored a hat-trick in last month's 4-1 win in Belarus, is expected to lead the Italian line and could face a hostile reception from the Sicilian crowd.

Toni was a hero at the 'Favorita' stadium in the past two seasons with his goals helping Palermo be promoted from Serie B and then secure a place in the UEFA Cup for the first time.

But his move to Fiorentina during the close season angered supporters, and club and national team officials have been urging the fans not to whistle him on his return.

Toni is likely to be partnered by Milan's Alberto Gilardino with Francesco Totti operating in his favoured role behind the strikers meaning Milan's Christian Vieri and Alessandro Del Piero, of Juventus, will start on the substitutes' bench.

Slovenia host Scotland in their final qualifier while Norway travel to Belarus on Wednesday.