Fallen giants Udinese and Milan square off at Friuli on Saturday evening, with both sides desperate to improve their dismal league position.

The Zebrette are going through one of the worst seasons in recent years, with Francesco Guidolin’s side currently sitting mere three places above the relegation zone.

Taking into account their seven-point advantage over the bottom three and amount of quality within the ranks, Udinese are highly unlikely to go down, but they do need to show some improvement in order to raise the spirits ahead of the new campaign.

Having shown some promise at the beginning of February, the Zebrette are now on a four-match winless run, with weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Cagliari acting as a serious blow to the players’ confidence.

Therefore, this is clearly not the right time to be facing hungry Milan, and odds of 3.10 (21/10) offered on home win are not exactly worth a shot.

Defenders Thomas Heurtaux and Igor Bubnjic have resumed full training and they should be in contention, but Danilo is suspended.

Important midfielder Andre Lazzari continues to battle a thigh problem and he is almost certain to miss the clash against Milan.

Probable starting line-up (3-5-1-1): Scuffet – Naldo, Heurtaux, Domizzi – Basta, Pereyra, Yebda, Pinzi, Silva – Fernandes – Di Natale.

Milan have had their share of problems this season and even though the results haven’t improved a great deal under Clarence Seedorf, there have been some promising signs.

Everybody at the club is working towards next season when the Rossoneri should return to their best, but there is still a lot to play for this term as well.

Having completely outclassed La Liga high-flyers Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Milan will be hoping to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first leg, but they first need to negotiate the league clash against Udinese.

In spite of the weekend’s defeat to Serie A leaders Juventus, the Rossoneri sit just six points behind Europa League positions and they could revive their top 5 bid with a triumph at Friuli.

And having won two of their last three away fixtures in the league, Milan have been made 2.55 (14/9) favourites to defeat Udinese.

Sulley Muntari returns from suspension, but Mario Balotelli, Cristian Zapata and Andrea Poli are all considered doubtful. Stephan El Shaarawy and Andrea Petanga are definitely out.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Abbiati – De Sciglio, Rami, Bonera, Emanuelson – Essien, Montolivo – Robinho, Kaka, Taarabt – Pazzini.