JUVENTUS will have to overcome a lengthening injury list, as well as Italian Cup finalists Vicenza, if they are to keep their five point lead in the Serie A this weekend.

Juventus suffered two setbacks in as many days this week, when first Alen Boksic and then play-maker Alessandro Del Piero pulled up with thigh muscle injuries. The Croatian striker will probably be back next, week, but crowd favourite Del Piero will be out for a month.

Goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi is doubtful with back, muscle trouble, as is French midfielder Didier Deschamps, who missed France's friendly against Holland with a calf strain.

To complete the misery for coach Marcello Lippi, already without long-term injured skipper Antonio Conte, his other Frenchman Zinedine Zidane is suspended for tonight's game.

Vicenza will not get a better chance to beat the European champions. Though five points adrift of Sampdoria, and the second place that next season opens up a lucrative slot in the European Champions League, Vicenza still want to stay in the UEFA Cup zone.

Sampdoria will again turn to the 26-goal partnership of veteran Roberto Mancini and youthful Vincenzo Montella for their tricky home match against Bologna tomorrow. They will be defending a two-point lead over Inter Milan and Parma, their main rivals for that coveted second slot at the end of the season.

Inter, rocked by Wednesday's double blow of losing coach Roy Hodgso to Blackbunt Rovers and then losing to Napoli on penalties in the cup, travel to struggling Piacenza. AC Milan have had Christophe Dugarry and Paolo Maldini suspended for two matches after being sent off for elbowing last weekend and they have also lost Dutchman Edgar Davids for six months with a broken leg.

The question on everyone's lips is whether Milan's season can get any worse. Tomorrow, they have a score to settle with AS Roma.