Rome: Early season surprise Lazio is still hanging around near the top of the Serie A table and the Roman club gets another chance to assert itself when it welcomes struggling Inter Milan to the Stadio Olimpico on Friday.
"It's going to be a tremendous test for us," said Lazio's new forward Hernanes.
A 25-year-old who Lazio acquired from Sao Paulo in the offseason, Hernanes showed off his intuitive passing skills in Lazio's opening games this season. Last weekend, the Brazilian, nicknamed "The Prophet", found the target himself with a precise shot from outside the area in a 1-1 draw with Catania.
It was Hernanes' third goal in 13 league matches.
"In Brazil my specialty was shots from beyond the area but I hadn't scored one in a while and Lazio hadn't scored one all season, so it was nice to finally make my contribution," Hernanes said.
Lazio is second, three points behind leader AC Milan, while Inter is fifth, seven points back from its city rival.
However, Inter is without numerous regulars, with goalkeeper Julio Cesar and Walter Samuel, Maicon, Cristian Chivu, Coutinho and Diego Milito all injured.
"Inter's reserves are just as strong as their starters. I saw how they won their last game without seven starters," Hernanes said, referring to Inter's 5-2 win over Parma last weekend.
Hernanes nearly joined Inter instead of Lazio but the Milan club preferred to sign another Brazilian, the 18-year-old playmaker Coutinho, instead.
While Hernanes maintains that he holds no ill will against Inter, it's clear he wants to perform well.
"Facing Inter is still special," he said. "We're going up against one of the best teams in the world and I want to put on a good show."
Elsewhere this weekend, Milan hosts Brescia on Saturday and third-place Juventus visits Catania on Sunday.
With the matches spread out over four days, southern clubs Napoli and Palermo meet on Monday.
Milan has announced plans to send Alexandre Pato to a specialist at Duke University in the Unites States for consultation following a series of muscle injuries that have hampered the Brazil forward's career.
With Filippo Inzaghi out for the season, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho will again lead the Rossoneri attack.
Juventus and Sampdoria were each eliminated from the Europa League on Wednesday, while Napoli played at Utrecht on Thursday and Palermo hosted Sparta Prague.
"This is a bitter day, the most bitter since I've been here but Juve has improved and I believe we're going to get back into Europe through the front door," Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri said following a 1-1 draw at Polish side Lech Poznan.
Juventus is hoping for a top-three finish, which would guarantee a spot in next season's Champions League.
Sampdoria, which is struggling without creative but temperamental forward Antonio Cassano, was beaten 2-1 at home by PSV Eindhoven.
Cassano is being punished for a verbal tirade directed at Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone.
"He's irreplaceable but we're also missing other players. I think the club needs to make moves in the January transfer market," said Sampdoria captain Angelo Palombo.
In eighth place, Sampdoria hosts last-place Bari on Sunday.
Also this weekend, it's Chievo Verona vs AS Roma, Cesena vs. Bologna, Fiorentina vs Cagliari, Lecce vs Genoa and Parma vs Udinese.
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