Inter Milan lead the Serie A standings with a six-point cushion over Scudetto contenders AC Milan and Juventus but Nerazzurri coach Jose Mourinho warned that the season still has a long way to go.
Mourinho has not been swept up by the praise handed to his team by their opponents.
Inter clinched their fifth consecutive victory in last weekend's 2-1 triumph over Napoli and have lost just once in their 14 encounters this campaign.
"We have already forgotten the game against Napoli," said Mourinho.
"On Saturday we face another important game and we haven't even arrived to the halfway line of the tournament."
Mourinho has reason to be wary of fifth-placed Lazio, who have only lost once at the Stadio Olimpico this campaign and that was in last month's derby defeat to Roma.
The Biancoceleste are invigorated by their midweek success, which saw them eliminate AC Milan from the Coppa Italia after a 2-1 win at the San Siro.
"We hope we can pick up where we left off against AC Milan on Saturday," said Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi.
"We know it's going to be a difficult encounter, against an Inter side that has the best striking force and the best defensive line in the competition.
"But we will give our best."
A Lazio triumph would be a blessing for joint-second Juve and AC Milan, who face easier tests this weekend.
Juve travel to Lecce looking to warm up for next weekend's home encounter against AC Milan while the Rossoneri entertain Catania desperate to find their form.
Wednesday's defeat against Lazio and their 3-1 slip at Palermo on Sunday was evidence that all is not well at the Rossoneri camp.
Red-hot Roma look to make it four wins in a row when they make the journey to Verona to meet bottom side Chievo.
Sampdoria seek home comfort when they entertain Genoa in Sunday's city derby. They have only managed to collect one point out of a possible 18 on the road this campaign while they remain unbeaten at the Marassi stadium.
Fourth-placed Napoli will rely on in-form striker Ezequiel Lavezzi to come up with the goods when they take on Siena in Naples. Lavezzi has struck two goals in his side's last two games.
Sicilian outfit Palermo look to pick up where they left off in last weekend's 3-1 triumph over AC Milan when they make the journey to Sardinia to face Cagliari in a battle of the islands.
Atalanta host Udinese in buoyant mood after their narrow victory against Lazio allowed them to climb to 10th in the standings. The Friuli outfit will have to overcome the absence of top scorer Antonio di Natale, who serves a one-match ban.
Reggina meet promoted side Bologna hoping to move above 18th position in the table, with the Amaranto just one point behind Torino, who hold the last safety spot.
Torino will be desperate to end their winless run on the road when they travel to Tuscany to meet Fiorentina. A defeat on Sunday could bring to an end Gianni de Biasi's reign in charge of the Turin outfit.
Inter clinched their fifth consecutive victory in last weekend's 2-1 triumph over Napoli and have lost just once in their 14 encounters this campaign.
"We have already forgotten the game against Napoli," said Mourinho.
"On Saturday we face another important game and we haven't even arrived to the halfway line of the tournament."
Mourinho has reason to be wary of fifth-placed Lazio, who have only lost once at the Stadio Olimpico this campaign and that was in last month's derby defeat to Roma.
The Biancoceleste are invigorated by their midweek success, which saw them eliminate AC Milan from the Coppa Italia after a 2-1 win at the San Siro.
"We hope we can pick up where we left off against AC Milan on Saturday," said Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi.
"We know it's going to be a difficult encounter, against an Inter side that has the best striking force and the best defensive line in the competition.
"But we will give our best."
A Lazio triumph would be a blessing for joint-second Juve and AC Milan, who face easier tests this weekend.
Juve travel to Lecce looking to warm up for next weekend's home encounter against AC Milan while the Rossoneri entertain Catania desperate to find their form.
Wednesday's defeat against Lazio and their 3-1 slip at Palermo on Sunday was evidence that all is not well at the Rossoneri camp.
Red-hot Roma look to make it four wins in a row when they make the journey to Verona to meet bottom side Chievo.
Sampdoria seek home comfort when they entertain Genoa in Sunday's city derby. They have only managed to collect one point out of a possible 18 on the road this campaign while they remain unbeaten at the Marassi stadium.
Fourth-placed Napoli will rely on in-form striker Ezequiel Lavezzi to come up with the goods when they take on Siena in Naples. Lavezzi has struck two goals in his side's last two games.
Sicilian outfit Palermo look to pick up where they left off in last weekend's 3-1 triumph over AC Milan when they make the journey to Sardinia to face Cagliari in a battle of the islands.
Atalanta host Udinese in buoyant mood after their narrow victory against Lazio allowed them to climb to 10th in the standings. The Friuli outfit will have to overcome the absence of top scorer Antonio di Natale, who serves a one-match ban.
Reggina meet promoted side Bologna hoping to move above 18th position in the table, with the Amaranto just one point behind Torino, who hold the last safety spot.
Torino will be desperate to end their winless run on the road when they travel to Tuscany to meet Fiorentina. A defeat on Sunday could bring to an end Gianni de Biasi's reign in charge of the Turin outfit.
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Sainsbury: My Socceroos setback
Sainsbury makes Serie A debut
.jpg&h=115&w=225&c=1&s=1)
