Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo will make his first start for the club since December in the Italian Cup semi-final, first leg against Palermo at the San Siro tonight, coach Massimiliano Allegri said.

Allegri also revealed that front pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano would play.

Ibrahimovic has played only once in the last four games due to two different suspensions in the league but he is free to play in the cup.

And having been knocked out of Europe by Tottenham in the second round of the Champions League, Allegri insists his league leaders will not be taking this competition lightly.

“We want to win this trophy. It’s our duty to try to reach the Cup final and win the league,” he said.

“Tomorrow (today) I will play my best possible team, Ibra will play with Cassano and probably Pirlo from the first minute.”

That will come as good news to the team which will be without injured pair Alessandro Nesta and Pato.

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