Chievo vs Udinese preview - Di Natale has third in his sights

Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale has stressed that he and his team-mates are fully focused on achieving their goal of finishing third in Serie A.

The Friuli outfit have won just one of their last seven games and travel to Verona to face Chievo.

A 3-1 loss at Roma last time out was their second defeat in three games and dropped Udinese to fourth place, three points adrift of Lazio, who are third and hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

"We are not tired," Di Natale said. "Against Roma we took a step backwards from a result standpoint but not in terms of our performance.

"There are six games left to play and we will face them as though they were finals.

"Our aim is still to finish third."

Francesco Guidolin's men have taken just one point from a possible 12 in their last four games away from home.

Udinese will be without midfielder Giampiero Pinzi, who serves a one-match ban, while defender Mehdi Benatia and striker Floro Flores are out injured.

Chievo go into the encounter at the Marc' Antonio Bentegodi stadium on the back of a 1-0 loss to AC Milan.

That result halted a four-match unbeaten run for the Flying Donkeys and dropped the team to ninth place, eight points clear of the drop zone.

"We have to put this defeat behind us and concentrate on our next game, which will be a tricky one," Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo said.

"We have had a week to prepare for this game and I believe we can do well.

"We played well against Milan and I expect a similar performance from my players on Saturday."

Chievo must overcome the absence of defender Gennaro Sardo and striker Sergio Pellissier, both suspended.