South Korea v Italy Daejeon, 12.30 Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni believes it is time for his team to assert themselves against co-hosts South Korea today.

A full house of fanatical Korean supporters is expected and Trapattoni expects his team to show their character. "Sure, there will be a lot of fans here but this is a game where we have to show who we are," he said.

Trapattoni told reporters he could not name his starting line-up yet as he was still waiting on the fitness of central defender Alessandro Nesta and had yet to decide whether Alessandro Del Piero or Filippo Inzaghi would partner Christian Vieri in attack.

"As with the previous games there are still some doubts over two starting positions. One is Nesta because it is still possible that he can make it and the other is the choice over whether to use Del Piero or Inzaghi," said Trapattoni.

The Italy coach was in upbeat mood about his team's form as they look to put their sluggish group stage performances behind them.

"I look at the team and see them very fired up, in particular Francesco Totti. They are all developing and so is our desire. The team is in good shape.

"When you play away from home then it is going to be like this. We have to have the approach that this is an away match," Trapattoni added.

Nonetheless, Trapattoni will be forced to reshuffle his defence with Fabio Cannavaro suspended and Nesta continuing to suffer from a badly bruised foot.

Nesta said he had only a 50-50 chance of being able to face the Koreans, and, should he fail to make it, Trapattoni said Mark Iuliano was the "natural alternative" in the centre of defence.

The Italy coach also suggested that Francesco Coco could come in at left back with Paolo Maldini moving across to the centre.

Cristiano Zanetti and Damiano Tommasi will again start in the centre of midfield, Trapattoni said.

Trapattoni said he was unconcerned by South Korea's attempts to use the North's famous 1-0 win over Italy at the 1966 World Cup to unnerve the current generation of the Azzurri.

"Again 1966", spelt out in huge letters on the seats behind one of the goals, greeted the Italians when they trained in the Daejeon stadium, but Trapattoni was non-plussed.

"I know there is a sign on the pitch, but that is a statistic in the history books," he said dismissively. "This Italian team of today has got an enormous will to win."

Meanwhile his counterpart, Guus Hiddink, has been playing down the chances of the South Koreans, claiming it will be "almost impossible" for them to beat Italy.

"The way they play is very, very efficient so it will be a nice clash between number four or five in the FIFA world rankings and number 35 or 40. It might be another historic night, and let's make history by trying to do what's almost impossible."

South Korea's players will not fear a penalty shoot-out as every drawn match in the Korean league is decided with spot kicks.

The Korean Football Association introduced shoot-outs for drawn games to encourage attacking football of the type characterised by the national team in their run to the second round of the competition. Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae has a 100 per cent record in penalty shootouts with his club side Suwon Bluewings, the Asian Club champions, having come out on top on seven occasions.