Sensini faces first test

Nestor Sensini, the Argentine defender, took over as player coach at Udinese following Serse Cosmi's dismissal on Friday, and in his first game in charge he finds himself pitting his wits against Lazio, whose squad he was a part of in 2000 when the Romans brought the title to the blue half of the capital.

Sensini and his new partner, former Como boss Loris Dominissini, have a big challenge ahead of them as Cosmi left the club in real trouble, having won just once in their last eleven matches.

Lazio, for their part, are also struggling and, whilst the depth of the mire they find themselves in is not quite as deep as the one Cosmi has dug for Udinese, three points could prove to be invaluable to the Biancocelesti, as they seek to arrest a worrying run of six draws in their last nine games.

Chievo face struggling Serie A new boys Treviso in the early game on Saturday hoping to get back on track for a European place.

The Verona club currently lie just outside European contention in seventh place and are in danger of seeing a lucrative place in continental competition next season slip away.

Chievo have lost all five of their last away games, but opposition in the form of Treviso should not pose too many problems for Giuseppe Pillon's side.

Rapidly becoming Serie A's whipping boys, Treviso head into the game coming of the back of a 5-0 trouncing at the hands of Milan midweek, and will be hoping to bounce straight back.