Brief news ahead of this weekend's matches in Serie A:

* Milan forward Marco Borriello looks set to miss tomorrow's trip to Livorno and Tuesday's Champions League match at Marseille because of a back problem that will force him to train separately from his team mates for several days.

Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is favourite to take his place up front alongside Alexandre Pato this weekend, when coach Leonardo will be looking for a strong response after slumping 4-0 to city rivals Inter last time out.

Midfield enforcer Gennaro Gattuso has an ankle injury but is suspended anyway after being sent off in the derby defeat that left Milan on three points from two games.

* Italy full-back Fabio Grosso is expected to make his debut for Juventus tomorrow when the Turin side seek to continue their perfect start at Lazio.

Grosso marked his return from a stint with Olympic Lyon by being part of a seven-man Juve contingent in the Italy team that beat Bulgaria 2-0 in Turin on Wednesday, scoring the opening goal in the World Cup qualifier.

Captain Alessandro Del Piero will vie with David Trezeguet to partner Amauri in attack if coach Ciro Ferrara opts to rest Vincenzo Iaquinta before Tuesday's Champions League game against Girondins Bordeaux.

Iaquinta was also on the scoresheet against Bulgaria and played in the Azzurri's 2-0 win in Georgia tomorrow.

* With in-form Argentine Mauro Zarate and captain Tommaso Rocchi both injury doubts, Lazio coach Davide Ballardini is likely to pair Pasquale Foggia and Julio Cruz in attack.

Lazio also won their opening two games and share the top spot with Juve, Genoa and Sampdoria.

* Jose Mourinho may rotate his squad in Inter's home game against Parma on Sunday ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Barcelona.

Midfielders Patrick Vieira and Sulley Muntari, and striker Mario Balotelli are tipped to come into the starting line with Wesley Sneijder and Diego Milito possibly in for a rest after duty with the Dutch and Argentine national teams. Champions Inter and promoted Parma both have four points.

* Claudio Ranieri will be without Brazil goalkeeper Doni and full back Cicinho, both out with long-term injuries, in his maiden match in charge of Roma at Siena on Sunday when his side will be looking for their first points of the season.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.