“Both teams are going through a difficult time,” he said of the Friulani, who have lost five on the trot.

“Udinese are strong, but we have to focus on our own performance. They need a result just as much as we do and only three or four sides have as much quality.”

These two sides were both top of the table a few weeks ago, but have hit problems and tumbled down the standings.

“It is not a crisis. We started well and now have slowed down, but the important thing is to achieve the objective we set out with at the start of the season.

“We are aiming to finish just behind the top teams at the end of the campaign. We are on track for our target and now have to play with guts to get our confidence back through results.

“Could we go for fourth place? Anything can happen, but we must wait for March, as those final months are when tournaments are decided.”

Goran Pandev is in the squad travelling to Udine, but is a major doubt due to an injury, so Mauro Zarate should partner Tommaso Rocchi and the trident is shelved once again.

“I need to find the right balance in midfield so we can play with three strikers,” mused Rossi.

Lorenzo De Silvestri, Sebastiano Siviglia and Francelino Matuzalem have not made the trip, while Stefan Lichtsteiner awaits a late fitness test.