Cagliari have suprisingly decided to leave out striker Marco Sau for this afternoon's Serie A clash with in-form Sampdoria.

Sau has to settle for a place on the bench, with Brazilian forward Thiago Riberio picked to partner Victor Ibarbo in attack.

Cagliari are also without captain Daniele Conte through injury and Francesco Pisano, who serves the first match of his suspension this afternoon.

Sampdoria also have suspension issues of their own to contend with, as Nenad Krsticic and Daniele Gastaldello both begin bans.

Pedro Obiang and Gianluca Sansone come in as Sampdoria try to stretch a run which has seen them lose just two matches in 2013.

Cagliari: Agazzi, Perico, Astori, Rossettini, Murru, Dessena, Nainggolan, Ekdal, Cossu, Thiago Ribeiro, Ibarbo

Sampdoria: Romero, Rossini, Palombo, Costa, De Silvestri, Poli, Obiang, Maresca, Estigarribia, Eder, Icardi