Sunday's game at second-place Palermo (GOLTV, 3 p.m. ET, tape delayed) will provide one of Inter's biggest tests so far.

``We'll enjoy this victory,'' Hernan Crespo said after leading Inter to a 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Wednesday. ``But from Thursday, we'll be thinking about Palermo.''

Inter leads Serie A with 30 points, three ahead of Palermo. AS Roma is third with 26.

Inter's success has largely been due to improved defence. The Nerazzurri have conceded only one goal in their last three league games, after conceding 12 in the first nine.

``At the beginning of the season we were better in terms of the spectacle, but we gifted too many goals in defence,'' Crespo said. ``Now we have found our balance. We're more solid and above all we're winning.''

If Inter wins on Sunday, it will set a new club record for consecutive victories in all competitions, with nine.

But Palermo, which lost its third game of the season at Cagliari 1-0 last Saturday, will be hoping home advantage can help it rejoin Inter atop the standings.

``Whenever I stick my nose out of the house, the fans stop me and beg me one thing _ to beat Inter and trim their three-point lead,'' Palermo captain Eugenio Corini said. ``There's no doubt that Sunday evening will be the game of the year.''

Coach Francesco Guidolin rested Corini and seven others _ including Brazilian striker Amauri _ in Palermo's 3-0 loss to Turkey's Fenerbahce in a UEFA Cup match on Thursday, to keep them fresh for Sunday's showdown.

Inter will be without injured striker Julio Ricardo Cruz (knee) and Olivier Dacourt (hamstring), but welcomes back Esteban Cambiasso after three months out with a calf complaint.

Also Sunday, Roma, which scored seven goals against Catania last weekend, but lost 1-0 to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday, travels to Sampdoria (GOLTV, 9 a.m. ET), hoping to stay in the chase.

On Saturday, AC Milan will try to end its dismal run when it hosts 12th-placed Messina (GOLTV, 6 p.m. ET, tape delayed).

Milan hasn't won in the league since edging lowly Chievo Verona 1-0 a month ago. To make matters worse, the Rossoneri have 10 players injured, including seven defenders.

Milan began the season with an eight-point penalty for its role in the Italian match-fixing scandal and is languishing in 15th place with eight points.

Also Saturday, Chievo, which has the worst record in Serie A with four draws and eight losses, hosts Udinese.

Also Sunday, it is Atalanta versus Torino; Catania versus Parma (Fox Sports World Canada, 2:30 p.m. ET, tape delayed); Empoli versus Cagliari; Lazio versus Ascoli (Fox Sports World Canada, 9 a.m. ET); Reggina versus Livorno; and, Siena versus Fiorentina.

Parma is coming off a 2-1 win over SC Heerenveen of Netherlands in UEFA Cup action Thursday night.

Juventus' unbeaten record in Serie B could be under threat when it hosts Lecce on Saturday. The Turin side is missing seven first-choice players, including Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (disqualified), captain Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Cristiano Zanetti (all injured).

Juventus is third in Italy's second division with 21 points, one behind joint leaders Napoli and Piacenza.