Last year's losing finalists Juventus welcome Serie B promotion contenders SPAL on Wednesday, as they continue their Coppa Italia campaign in the quarter-finals.
Now expected to take another step towards a record-extending 14th cup triumph in the spring, the Bianconeri enter this home tie as undisputed favourites against a side demoted from the top flight last season.
As undisputed underdogs, SPAL meet their illustrious opponents in the knowledge that success is improbable, but with fond memories of the two sides' Serie A clashes in recent times. Building on earning a goalless draw the season before, the Ferrara-based outfit remarkably turned over the Turin giants 2-1 in April 2019 - with current captain Sergio Floccari netting the winner.
As a barometer of that heroic lineup's individual quality, several members of the team that day are currently Serie A mainstays at their new clubs, including Udinese's Kevin Bonifazi, Manuel Lazzari and Mohamed Fares of Lazio, and Napoli striker Andrea Petagna. However, relegation followed just over a year later.
SPAL's rebound from finishing dead-last at the end of a difficult 2019-20 campaign has been commendable though, as the Biancazzurri are in the mix for promotion straight back from Serie B.
Given a never-ending merry-go-round of fixtures - with two matches every week - home coach Andrea Pirlo is likely to take this opportunity to rest some weary limbs.
Veteran defensive pair Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini could potentially both sit out, now that Merih Demiral and Matthijs de Ligt have returned to fitness. Certainly, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is likely to deputise for Wojciech Szczesny and Cristiano Ronaldo may even be offered a rare break, with Alvaro Morata joining Dejan Kulusevski - suspended for next week's league action - up front.
Alex Sandro remains in self-isolation, so Gianluca Frabotta may take over from versatile defender Danilo at left-back.
SPAL boss Pasquale Marino is expected to pair experienced duo Alberto Paloschi and Sergio Floccari at the top of his 3-5-2 formation, with on-loan Atalanta striker Marco Tumminello still out injured, though switching to 3-4-2-1 is a possible alternative.
Both Alessandro Murgia and Enrico Brignola look to break into the midfield three, with Simone Missiroli, Mattia Valoti and young Salvatore Esposito the favoured trio.
Former Lazio goalkeeper Etrit Berisha returned to the side in the previous round after being hospitalised with COVID-19 at the turn of the year and could have a busy 90 minutes as SPAL's last line of defence.
SPAL possible starting lineup:
Berisha; Tomovic, Vicari, Ranieri; Dickmann, Valoti, Missiroli, Esposito, Sala; Paloschi, Floccari
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Buffon; Cuadrado, De Ligt, Demiral, Frabotta; McKennie, Ramsey, Rabiot, Chiesa; Kulusevski, Morata
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