ROME - It may not be ‘top of the table’ but Inter Milan’s visit to champions and leaders Juventus is a clash neither side can really afford to lose on Sunday.

Only two weeks ago the pundits gave Juve’s scudetto rivals little chance of overcoming their respective deficits to the Bianconeri.

But Juve’s 1-1 draw away to Lazio last weekend, coupled with Roma’s 3-1 win away to Verona, has injected some life into a championship in which most teams seem to already be playing for their futures in Europe next season.

Juve host Inter without goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, handed a one-match ban for his red card last week, but with a six-point lead on Roma and Napoli a further six points adrift in third in the last UEFA Champions League qualifying spot.

Juve are unbeaten at home this season but with a rampant Roma expected to account for Parma at the Olympic Stadium and Inter desperate for a win, Antonio Conte’s men can take nothing for granted.

Francesco Totti, who hit Roma’s third goal last week, warned: "I think we’ve fired a warning shot with regard to the championship fight.”

Inter would like to be just as ambitious but with just eight points from their last nine games they face a formidable task.