The fierce rivals enter the derby game in similar mood and it is not a good one even if Lazio managed to return to the right track with a narrow victory over Fiorentina.

Roma are playing way below their potential at the moment and they cannot seem to find any consistency this season.

The club chiefs still have confidence in boss Luis Enrique even though he doesn’t seem to be in full control of the dressing room, but everybody at the club is hoping a derby win over Lazio can help the team kick-start their season.

That is easier said than done after the embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Atalanta that had a devastating effect on the Giallorossi.

The heavy defeat not only acted as a major blow to the players’ confidence but also robbed Luis Enrique of Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, Marco Cassetti and Fernando Gago, who are all suspended for the Lazio game.

Nicolas Burdisso remains a long-term worry, but at least Francesco Totti returns from a one-match ban. The odds of 2.25 (5/4) offered by Paddy Power on home win show that Lazio are in problems as well.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Stekelenburg – Rosi, Juan, Heinze, Taddei – Marquinho, De Rossi, Pjanic – Totti – Lamela, Borini.

Lazio boss Edy Reja was certainly right when he said that media were too harsh on his team as we keep hearing about the Biancocelesti’s problems even if they now sit tied on points with third-placed Udinese and seven points clear of Roma.

The experienced coach offered his resignation after the 5-1 defeat to Palermo, but club chiefs persuaded him into staying at Olimpico and that resulted in a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina.

Considering all the selection problems Edy Reja has faced this season, Champions League qualification would be a huge success for his side, and odds of 2.80 (9/5) offered by bet365 on Lazio to achieve a top 3 finish do look tempting.

Playmaker Stefano Mauri returned into action in just the right time as another important midfielder Senad Lulic joined the lengthy injury list.

That means that even without Stefan Radu, Tomasso Rocchi, Abdoulay Konko, Luciano Zauri, Christian Brocchi, Marius Stankevicius and Lorik Cana, Edy Reja will be able to field a decent side against Roma.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Marchetti – Diakite, Biava, Dias, Scaloni – Ledesma, Matuzalem – Gonzalez, Hernanes, Mauri – Klose.