Gigi Buffon is set to sit out Juventus’ final game of the season against Sampdoria due to a long-standing back problem.
The gifted shot-stopper had planned to rest as soon as the Old Lady secured qualification for next season’s Champions League, but he reconsidered when the pain in his back subsided.
However, with Euro 2008 looming large, Buffon is expected to pull out of Saturday evening’s match away to Sampdoria where there is only pride at stake.
Emanuele Belardi is ready to fill in for his fourth start of the Serie A campaign.
Claudio Ranieri has a weakened side for the trip to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris with Vincenzo Iaquinta and Jorge Andrade injured and Mauro Camoranesi, Zdenek Grygera and Antonio Nocerino suspended.
Mali international Mohamed Sissoko is ready to return to the side after taking two days off to play in a charity match in Seville.
David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero are likely to start up front and will be competing for the Capocannoniere title, as they are both level with Genoa’s Marco Borriello at the top of the scoring chart with 19 goals apiece.
