Maurizio Sarri is tempted by two possible changes for the Scudetto showdown with Juventus, as Arkadiusz Milik and Piotr Zielinski are on fine form.
It kicks off in Turin at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Napoli’s starting XI is now so classic that any fan can recite it without fear of error and the only absentee is long-term injury case Faouzi Ghoulam.
Maurizio Sarri is tempted by two possible changes for the Scudetto showdown with Juventus, as Arkadiusz Milik and Piotr Zielinski are on fine form.
It kicks off in Turin at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Napoli’s starting XI is now so classic that any fan can recite it without fear of error and the only absentee is long-term injury case Faouzi Ghoulam.
Kalidou Koulibaly returns from suspension, having missed the 4-2 win over Udinese on Wednesday, with Mario Rui and Elseid Hysaj as full-backs.
Yet there are two potential changes on Sarri’s mind in midfield and attack.
It’s rumoured Piotr Zielinski could get the nod rather than captain Marek Hamsik, which would be an unusual step, but not a new one by any means.
Zielinski started midweek against Udinese, but Allan and Jorginho should return after they were rested.
The other doubt is in attack, where Arkadiusz Milik is champing at the bit for his chance to battle it out with the tall Juventus centre-backs.
The Poland international tore his anterior cruciate ligament twice in under a year and only made his comeback last month, but in the last three games has contributed two goals and an assist.
Mertens is the number one choice for the attack and came so close to the Capocannoniere crown last season, but the Belgian is running out of steam.
He hasn’t found the net since a 4-2 defeat to Roma on March 3, firing blanks for six consecutive rounds.
History also doesn’t smile on ‘Ciro’ Mertens, who has scored only two goals past Juventus. They were in March 2014 in a 2-0 Serie A home win and 3-2 Coppa Italia semi-final victory in April 2017, but both games were at the Stadio San Paolo.
There is another alternative and that is for Sarri to use all his firepower simultaneously, something he only tends to do in the closing stages when trailing.
It is a 4-2-3-1 of sorts, with Milik supported by the trio of Jose Callejon, Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne.
The leg work in midfield is therefore left to Jorginho and either Hamsik or Allan.
Probable
Napoli (4-3-3): Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Mertens, Insigne