Genoa vs Siena preview - Biondini taking the strain

Genoa midfielder Davide Biondini has admitted his team is feeling the pressure with the Grifoni still far from assured of their Serie A status ahead of Sunday's game against Siena.

Genoa were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-side Cesena in the last round and that result left them just one place clear of the relegation zone.

Alberto Malesani's men go into this weekend's encounter knowing that anything but a win could see them drop into the bottom three.

Genoa have not won since February 5 and are currently two points clear of 18th-placed Lecce.

"We are fully aware of the importance of Sunday's game," Biondini said. "We have struggled to get results and this is clearly weighing down on us.

"But we have to react and show a lot of grit in our remaining games."

Genoa have the worst defence in the league with 58 goals conceded in 32 games.

Rivals Siena travel to the Luigi Ferraris stadium on the back of a 2-1 loss at Inter Milan.

The Tuscan outfit had previously taken seven of a possible nine in their last three games before their setback in Milan.

That result left Siena in 13th place, five points clear of the drop zone.

"We cannot let this loss bring us down," Siena coach Giuseppe Sannino said. "There are six games remaining and we have yet to reach our aim, which is to defend our Serie A status."

Siena will have to overcome the absence of goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo.

Pegolo was sent off against Inter and will serve his first of a two-match ban on Sunday, with Zeljko Brkic replacing him in goal.

The hosts will be without defender Emiliano Moretti, who serves a one-match ban.