Juventus striker David Trezeguet believes his side have "nothing to lose" when they travel to leaders Internazionale on Saturday.
Inter are top of the standings with nine games remaining, seven points clear of second-placed Roma and 13 in front of third-place Juve.
For Trezeguet, who was this week left out of Raymond Domenech's France squad, Inter's sizeable lead is an added incentive to beat them.
"Motivation is vital in this game and going to the San Siro in front of a packed crowd, playing against the title holders, motivation will come from the chance to see if we can beat the best team in the league," Trezeguet told www.juventus.it.
"I'm not settling for a draw. We go to Milan with nothing to lose and we'll try to give them a hard time.
"Inter have a very strong team, but we're Juve and we can re-open the title race, out of respect for us and our fans."
Trezeguet, who said he would prefer the Scudetto to go to Roma this season, is preparing for a title challenge next season.
"The positive thing this year is our mentality, our desire to do well," he said.
"We've shown we're very much contenders, but when you're at a club such as this you want more.
"If we're to aim for the title next year we need to improve and the most important thing is that we've all become aware of this fact.
"With time we need to try and get back to the top level."
The Bianconeri would consolidate their position with a win on Saturday, but a second-place finish would mean direct entry to next season's Champions League, with no preliminary qualification to face after Euro 2008.
Claudio Ranieri's side now have three consecutive clean sheets after the goalless draw at Empoli on Sunday, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will be looking to showing just why he has been named the world goalkeeper of 2007.
The 30-year-old also won the award in 2003, 2004 and 2006, and is the first player to win one single category in four different seasons.
"I'm very pleased to receive this award because it is awarded after a careful statistical study and the fact I'm getting it for the fourth time means I must be doing something right," the Italy international told Juventus Channel.
Cristiano Zanetti has been ruled out through injury, while Jorge Andrade and Marco Marchionni are also sidelined.
Inter drew with Genoa last weekend but still extended their lead to seven points after Roma lost to Lazio.
Midfielder Pele is suspended after his first-half dismissal in that game, a decision which Inter president Massimo Moratti felt was unjust.
"I think it was an unfair sending off," he told club website www.inter.it.
"The referee can do what he wants and think he's right.
"It made things hard for us and it became a difficult match because the team was tired after all the matches we have played.
"(But) the team held up very well in a very difficult situation, and it was quite normal to concede a goal."
Marco Materazzi returns to the centre of defence from suspension and Hernan Crespo is set to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic in place of David Suazo in attack.
Cesar, Stankovic, Olivier Dacourt and defensive pair Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba comprise a long-term injury list for coach Roberto Mancini.
