TURIN - Juventus would like nothing more than to end Roma´s Scudetto ambitions when the two sides meet in Saturday´s top Serie A showdown.
Second-placed Roma travel to Turin's Stadio Olimpico knowing a slip could see Internazionale extend their eight-point cushion at the top of the standings. And bitter rivals Juve, in third but four points behind Roma, are determined to do Inter a favour.
"After the set-backs against Catania and Cagliari we bounced back immediately with Livorno and Udinese," said Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
"On Saturday Roma are coming and our objective is the Champions League and it would be best to finish second with the summer rounds in mind.
"To beat Roma would be a great step forward in the quest for second place."
Luciano Spalletti's Roma will be hoping captain Francesco Totti can end his goalscoring drought this weekend.
Totti is Roma's top scorer with 10 goals this campaign, but has failed to find the target in three games since returning from injury.
The 31-year-old will have an added motivation to beat Buffon as he has never scored at Juventus in the league.
By the time Roma and Juventus kick off they will know the result of Inter´s home clash against Livorno, who held Milan to a midweek draw.
Roma's Brazilian winger Amantino Mancini knows his team simply cannot fail.
"For us the most important thing is to take home three points," he said.
"It doesn´t matter if we play well or badly, the crucial thing is to get the win.
"It´s going to be a very difficult game against a team that wants to take our second spot. We´ve never had easy games in Turin but these type of games motivate players who want to prove their worth.
"It´s going to be a beautiful encounter and we are ready."
With 16 games remaining, Mancini believes there is still time to catch Inter.
"I continue to believe that the Scudetto is still open," Mancini added. "There are still many games to play including head-to-heads and there is the time to recover."
Juve, who have lost just once at home this season in the domestic competition, go into the encounter on the back of a 2-1 victory over Udinese which saw them cut their deficit with the Giallorossi.
The good news for the hosts is that Serie A´s top scorer David Trezeguet has recovered from a fever.
Despite Vincenzo Iaquinta´s impressive form, Ranieri is expected to field Trezeguet alongside captain Alessandro Del Piero in attack.
Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli would love to see Del Piero score on Saturday.
"I am a sentimental person," he said.
"Even if Iaquinta has done well off late, I hope Juventus can win against the Giallorossi with Del Piero scoring the winner."
Trezeguet has struck 15 goals this season. Ranieri´s only doubt is whether midfielder Mauro Camoranesi will recover from a back injury in time to start against the Eternal City giants.
A boost for the Giallorossi is the return of Brazilian defender Juan, who has recovered from injury.
