In contrast to recent seasons, Lazio are looking down the table at their Eternal City rivals after an impressive start to the campaign.

Last weekend's 1-0 triumph at Palermo was their fifth straight win - they have conceded just one goal in that time - and lifted them five points clear of second-placed Inter Milan with nine games gone.

Indeed they are in such good form that ninth-placed Roma have called labelled them favourites for the derby, not something they are accustomed to doing.

"We need to be perfect," said Daniele De Rossi, who will skipper Roma with captain Francesco Totti suspended.

"They are the team of the moment and everything is going well for them. It will be very tough."

Roma did show enough quality in their 3-2 triumph at Basle in the Champions League last night, though, to let Lazio know they will be in for a tough contest.

Inter Milan host strugglers Brescia on Saturday on the back of a midweek 3-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.

The Nerazzurri have so far not looked as formidable as they did under Jose Mourinho last season when they won a Champions League, Coppa Italia and Serie A treble.

AC Milan lie one point behind Inter and visit bottom-side Bari eager to return to winning ways after a 2-1 defeat to Juventus was followed by a 2-2 Champions League draw against Real Madrid, who equalised in injury time.

Juve are decimated by injuries going into Sunday's match against Cesena.

The Bianconeri, who already had several players on the sidelines, lost three more last week when Paolo De Ceglie, Alexander Manninger and Jorge Martinez picked up knocks.

Bologna are second from bottom and have mustered just one win in nine games. They take on Lecce this weekend.

Fiorentina have to cope with the absence of goalkeeper Sebastien Frey when they host Chievo on Sunday. Frey sustained a serious knee injury in training on Tuesday and will be sidelined for up to six months. Summer signing Artur Boruc will take his place in goal.

Sampdoria have to put a distraction concerning Antonio Cassano to one side as they prepare for a home game against Catania on Sunday.

The Genoa club have dropped Cassano following an argument he had with Samp president Riccardo Garrone and the matter has yet to be resolved, with the player's future at the club in question.

Napoli will fancy their chances of taking at least a point against Parma with Sunday's rivals having failed to win since late August.

Udinese go after a fifth consecutive win when they take on Cagliari at the Friuli stadium on Sunday. Udinese have recovered from an awful start to the season to sit eighth.

Elsewhere, Palermo and Genoa meet at the Renzo Barbera stadium with both teams eager to bounce back from last weekend's 1-0 defeats to Lazio and Inter respectively.