Title-chasing Roma are going to find out what life is like without talisman Francesco Totti tomorrow as their 100 per cent record comes under the spotlight on a tricky trip to Udinese.

The former Italy international is out for up to a month after limping off with a thigh injury during Roma’s 2-0 defeat of title rivals Napoli last week.

Roma are further hurt by an injury suffered by in-form Gervinho in the same game, meaning that they will have to rely on new signing Adem Ljajic and out-of-favour Marco Borriello to lead up front.

Captain Totti, 37, has been in sparkling form this season, scoring three goals and leading Roma to an unprecedented eight wins in their eight opening matches which put them five points clear at the top of Serie A.

Defender Mehdi Benatia believes they will cope without their evergreen captain in tomorrow’s game, however.

“We score goals because of everyone’s hard work, from the captain up front right back to (Morgan) De Sanctis behind me,” Benatia told reporters this week.

The defeat of Napoli has led to increasing talk of Roma’s fourth scudetto, something the club have tried to play down.

The Serie A leaders have a series of easy-looking home games coming up, with Chievo on Thursday the first, but some tough away fixtures including Torino next weekend.

Udinese are in 11th place on 10 points, all of which have come in their four home matches, although they have yet to play anyone in the top half of the table.

Benatia will be facing his old team-mate Antonio Di Natale, another veteran attacker who still packs a punch.

“He’s a great player,” Benatia said.

“Having him in front of me will be difficult but I won’t be giving him any gifts like I used to in training.”

Napoli’s loss to Roma was their first in Serie A this season but Rafa Benitez’s men bounced back at the first opportunity with a 2-1 triumph at Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Naples outfit take on Torino at the San Paolo tomorrow.

Champions Juventus hope to end a dismal week with a home victory against Genoa.

The Bianconeri fell 4-2 at Fiorentina last weekend before losing 2-1 at Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Milan, meanwhile, go into tomorrow’s match at Parma inspired by their midweek 1-1 result against Barcelona in Europe’s elite club competition.

The result at San Siro allowed Milan to remain unbeaten in the competition and kept them on course to qualify for the knock-out round.

Meanwhile, Verona, the surprise package in fourth place, travel to the San Siro to face fifth-placed Inter tonight.

Former Inter player Andrea Mandorlini, who won the league title under Giovanni Trappatoni in 1989, has guided newly-promoted Verona to 16 points in a start which has included games against champions Juventus, Milan and Roma.

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing Today
Sampdoria vs Atalanta 18.00
Inter vs Verona 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Bologna vs Livorno
Catania vs Sassuolo
Chievo vs Fiorentina
Juventus vs Genoa
Lazio vs Cagliari 20.45
Napoli vs Torino 12.30
Parma vs Milan
Udinese vs Roma

Standings: Roma 24; Napoli, Juventus 19; Verona 16; Inter, Fiorentina 15; Atalanta 12; Milan, Lazio 11; Torino, Udinese, Cagliari 10; Parma 9; Livorno, Genoa 8; Sampdoria 6; Catania, Sassuolo 5; Chievo 4; Bologna 3.

Serie B

Played Yesterday
Reggina vs Pescara 2-3

Playing Today – 15.00
Bari vs Trapani
Brescia vs Siena
Carpi vs Latina
Juve Stabia vs Empoli
Palermo vs Varese
Spezia vs Modena
Ternana vs Crotone
Lanciano vs Padova

Monday
Novara vs Cesena 20.30

Leading standings: Lanciano 22; Empoli, Cesena 20; Avellino 18; Palermo 17; Crotone 16; Modena, Varese 15; Spezia 14; Cittadella 13; Brescia 12.