With the Serie A title already done and dusted, the focus is now on the fight to beat the drop and that tussle is set to go right to the wire with the whole bottom half of the division not yet safe.

Claudio Ranieri's rejuvenated side are on 35 points, just three above the relegation zone with four games of the season left, despite having won their last three matches and not having tasted defeat in six.

But they appear to have found their form at the right time and defender Ferdinand Coly is confident they can ensure their safety in the upcoming games against Chievo and Messina.

The Senegal international told www.fcparma.com: "We know all that Sunday's game with Chievo is a fundamental game and that it will be important to get a positive result in order to keep Parma in the division.

"We always go onto the pitch to win and now we have the points in hand. We hope to win the two contests with Chievo and Messina.

"Around 39 or 40 points could be enough to stay up, but we are going to do what we need to do and are not going to rely on other teams' results."

In contrast to Parma's recent fine form, Chievo have taken only four points out of the last 15 available and occupy the final relegation spot on 32 points, one from safety.

But a home win on Sunday would move them level on points with their rivals and be a major boost to their chances of staying in the top flight.

Elsewhere, rock-bottom Ascoli, who have looked doomed for some months, will have their fate sealed if they fail to win away against a Torino side also desperate for every point they can get.

The visitors are 12 points from safety and have won just once away from home all season, but the home side are in the middle of an similarly dismal run of results and sit only one place and one point above the drop zone on 33 points.

Second-bottom Messina also look dead and buried, eight points adrift of Torino, and face the toughest test of all the relegation-threatened sides when they travel to the San Siro to take on champions Internazionale.

Other teams glancing anxiously over their shoulders are Reggina, Sienna and Cagliari, who are all level on 34 points and all face teams hoping to keep alive their fading hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

Reggina take on Sampdoria away from home, Sienna travel to Atalanta and Cagliari host Udinese.

Eleventh-placed Catania and Livorno, in 12th, have 37 and 36 points respectively and probably need just one more win to ensure their survival.

Catania, unbeaten in three, travel to Empoli, who have slipped out of the UEFA Cup places on goal difference, while Livorno must make the trip to Rome to take on fourth-placed Lazio.

In other games on Sunday, Roma visit Palermo, whose chase for a Champions League spot has stalled in recent weeks, and AC Milan, fresh from their midweek demolition of Manchester United, host a Fiorentina side looking to cling onto their UEFA Cup place.