Relegation-threatened Crotone will be hoping to end a dismal run of results and finally escape the bottom three this weekend, but that is clearly easier said than done.

The Calabrian side will be up against Serie A leaders Napoli, who appear to have rediscovered their form after a couple of unexpected slip-ups.

Crotone miraculously survived the previous league campaign, winning three of last four fixtures to pip Empoli to 17th-place finish, and they are in for another difficult season.

The Rossoblu have so far done fairly well, picking up 15 points from 18 fixtures, but they are going through a very rough patch at the moment.

Crotone have now lost six of last seven matches in all competitions, scoring just twice in the process, and it is perfectly clear where the problem lies.

The Rossoblu boast the second worst scoring record in the elite division having managed mere 13 goals so far, while conceding 36, so chances are they will struggle to match red-hot Napoli.

Defender Arlind Ajeti misses out through suspension, whereas Mariano Izco, Andrea Nalini and Marco Tumminello are out injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Cordaz – Samprisi, Ceccherini, Cabrera, Martella – Rohden, Barberis, Mandragora – Tonev, Budimir, Stoian.

Having impressed in the opening exchanges, Napoli spent the Christmas festivities at the Serie A summit, but the main task is to remain there come 21st May.

The Azzurri went through a rough patch few weeks ago, suffering two league setbacks and crashing out of the Champions League, but they have since returned to the right track.

Napoli recorded back to back Serie A wins over Torino and Sampdoria, while also defeating Udinese to secure their progress to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

The Azzurri have now been made 1.28 (2/7) favourites to defeat Crotone on the road, which is hardly surprising when we know they won 12 of last 13 league fixtures away from home.

Full-back Mario Rui is banned, meaning that Christian Maggio will be recalled to the side whereas Faouzi Ghoulam and Arkadiusz Milik remain sidelined.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Reina – Maggio, Albiol, Koulibaly, Hysaj – Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik – Callejon, Mertens, Insigne.