Milan v Fiorentina

Milan defender Thiago Silva has branded tomorrow's game with Fiorentina at the San Siro as their most important of the season.

Victory would take Leonardo's side to the brink of Champions League qualification, and could even guarantee it if other results go their way.

Milan's form has been poor of late, though. They have lost their last two games to Sampdoria, their rivals for third place, and Palermo, while a run of just one win in seven since mid-march has ended their Serie A title hopes.

A report also emerged this week suggesting the Rossoneri are set for a coaching change over the summer, with owner Silvio Berlusconi said to have told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper Leonardo will be leaving after just one season in charge.

But Thiago Silva is still firmly focused on securing third place.

"This match we have to play against Fiorentina is the most important of the season," the Brazil defender told the Milan Channel.

"If we win we will be very close to the Champions League, but if we lose it would be quite bad. We have to understand what to do to play better on Saturday."

Milan, who are still without Alexandre Pato and Alessandro Nesta through injury, won 2-1 at Fiorentina in the reverse fixture back in February thanks to two goals in the last nine minutes.

"It will be a different match to the one in Florence," said Thiago Silva.

"We have to win absolutely if we want to enter the Champions League without fear while they cannot make a mistake if they still want hope of qualifying for the Europa League. For this reason I think it will be different and I also think it will be positive for us."

Thiago Silva insists he is not getting distracted by the thought of playing in the World Cup in South Africa, even though just three games of the campaign remain.

"I think about it every day, but Milan necessarily comes first," he added.

"You earn a call up if you do well with your club, and I really care about Milan and so I always think about the good of my club."

Fiorentina, who like Milan were knocked out of this season's Champions League in the last 16, go into the game in ninth place, seven points adrift of seventh-placed Napoli.

Former Milan striker Alberto Gilardino admits Europa League qualification from that position is a very tall order, but is determined to end the season on a high.

"We are only thinking about the match against Milan, not about next season," he said on the club's website.

"The thing we care about the most is finishing the season with dignity and determination, avoiding more bad impressions like the one in Bergamo and last Sunday."

Fiorentina went down 2-1 at Atalanta and 2-0 at home to Chievo in their last two outings.

"We have already taken our responsibilities for those," Gilardino added. "The European dream is almost impossible, but we still want to try and win the last three matches, even though we are inevitably a bit tired.

"We have to rediscover enthusiasm, us players have failed to transmit it to the fans.

"Now we have to get it back to end well and start next season well."