Monza and Hellas Verona will both be looking to end significant losing runs when they meet in Serie A on Saturday.
Monza have lost three successive matches, while Verona are only off the foot of the table by virtue of goals scored having been defeated seven times in a row.
Match preview
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Monza's new manager bounce under Raffaele Palladino appears to be over having fallen to a third consecutive defeat at home to Bologna last time out, although they remain four points above safety heading into the weekend's action.
The 38-year-old won each of his opening three games in charge - including a historic 1-0 victory against Juventus - after succeeding Giovanni Stroppa in mid-September, while also advancing in the Coppa Italia with a 3-2 win against Udinese.
In a tight encounter, with both teams enjoying a similar share of shots, possession and corners, Bologna came from two goals behind at Stadio Brianteo, with Lewis Ferguson and Riccardo Orsolini overturning Andrea Petagna's converted penalty during an entertaining second half.
Palladino will know the significance of Saturday's fixture against Verona given the visitors struggles of late, and his players may sense an excellent opportunity to put further distance between themselves and the bottom three.
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Verona have made a change in the managerial dugout themselves in recent weeks, with their former player Salvatore Bocchetti replacing Gabriele Cioffi after a disastrous start to the season.
However, the 35-year-old has not managed to improve results whatsoever, losing each of his opening three games to AC Milan, Sassuolo and Roma to remain in the bottom three of the table.
Saturday's trip to Monza is a huge test of the five-time Italy international's coaching credentials in his first managerial job, as he could rightly point to the fact that his side have had three very tough fixtures in his first few weeks in charge.
Bocchetti is still waiting to pass his UEFA Pro License in order to remain beyond the temporary authorisation of 30 days in charge provided to him by the Italian Football Federation, so he must surely improve results prior to breaking for the World Cup later this month if he wishes to remain in charge for the long-term.
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Monza will remain without former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari, who was recently stabbed in a shopping centre near Milan and is likely to be out for several months after undergoing surgery on his back in the aftermath of the horrific incident.
Armando Izzo and Luca Caldirola are also expected to miss out through injury on Saturday, leaving Palladino short of defensive options, while Andrea Ranocchia is doubtful due to a sprained ankle.
Verona, meanwhile, are short of defensive numbers themselves as they will travel without Pawel Dawidowicz, Federico Ceccherini and Isak Hien due to suspension, while Roberto Piccoli, Ivan Ilic, Darko Lazovic, Ajdin Hrustic, Diego Coppola and Simone Verdi are all injury doubts.
Giangiacomo Magnani and Juan Cabal could come into the visitors' back three, with Bocchetti unlikely to change anything in front of them given the lack of options at his disposal.
Monza possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Donati, Marlon, Augusto; Birindelli, Rovella, Sensi, D'Alessandro; Pessina; Petagna, Ranocchia
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Magnani, Gunter, Cabal; Faraoni, Hongla, Veloso, Depaoli; Kallon, Tameze; Henry
We say: Monza 2-1 Hellas Verona
With Verona missing several key players through injury and suspension, we can envisage Monza returning to winning ways and extending the visitors' sizable losing streak.
Having finished in the top half in each of the last three seasons, Verona appear to be in serious danger of returning to Serie B unless they can make significant positive changes after the World Cup break.
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Top tip
Brett Curtis
