The Coach announced his starting XI during a Press conference and revealed that Under-21 international striker Robert Acquafresca will only be on the bench.

“It is a technical choice,” he explained. “I think that Jeda and [Alessandro] Matri have the ideal characteristics to cause problems for the Roma defence, whereas Acquafresca and Ragatzu can be more useful later on in the game.”

Diego Lopez returns after his five-match ban for a brawl with Fiorentina’s Felipe Melo was reduced to three.

Andrea Cossu starts behind the two strikers in what is effectively a play-off for sixth place.

Cagliari are only four points adrift of Roma and could still challenge for that Europa Cup qualification berth.

The Sardinians need a result to make up for last week’s 5-1 thrashing at Palermo and to avoid being leapfrogged in the standings by Udinese.

“We are certainly not lacking motivation. We want to end the season on a high and must focus on the performance more than the result,” insisted Allegri.

“It would be a terrible mistake to think we were engaging in battle, as we have very different characteristics.

“Roma are not in crisis, as they still have players of immense quality.”

Cagliari (probable): Marchetti; Pisano, Canini, Lopez, Agostini; Fini, Conti, Biondini; Cossu; Jeda, Matri