Nene was injured during last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Inter Milan and the South American will be sidelined for a month with a left thigh strain.

The Sardinians are looking to bounce back from Saturday's setback which spoiled coach Davide Ballardini's debut in charge of the islanders.

"We must put the defeat at Inter behind us and concentrate on the game against Siena," Ballardini said.

"We want to give our all to progress in this competition."

Siena travel to the Sant' Elia stadium on the back of a 2-2 draw with Atalanta.

The Tuscan outfit twice came from behind to earn a point and climb to 11th place, one point clear of Cagliari.

Genoa take on Serie B side Bari on Thursday hoping to keep up their unbeaten run at the Luigi Ferraris stadium this season.

The Grifoni won 1-0 against Novara on Sunday to climb to eighth in the standings.

Delio Rossi, who replaced Sinisa Mihajlovic at the helm of Fiorentina earlier this month, guided the team to a goalless draw on Saturday against AC Milan.

Searching for his first win as the coach of the Viola, he is expected to make wholesale changes for the home game against Tuscan neighbours Empoli on Thursday.

Empoli are 16th in Serie B with 15 points from 16 games.

Bologna, meanwhile, host Serie B side Crotone tomorrow knowing victory would see them lock horns with Serie A leaders Juventus in the last 16 of the competition.

Chievo go into tomorrow's home clash against Modena after Sunday's 2-1 triumph at Catania - their first win away from home this season.

The men from Verona will fancy their chances for they have lost just once at the Marc' Antonio Bentegodi stadium while rivals Modena have just one win on the road in Italy's second division.