AS Roma vs Napoli preview - Mazzarri wary of Roma threat

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has warned his players not to take rivals Roma lightly despite the Giallorossi's recent struggles.

Mazzarri's men go into the encounter at the Stadio Olimpico knowing that if results go their way this weekend they could climb into the crucial third position.

The top three teams in Serie A qualify for next season's Champions League.

"This is a very important game and it will be down to us to make life difficult for Roma," Mazzarri said. "I am wary of Roma.

"They have great champions and I don't believe they are in a crisis. If we want to get a positive result, we will have to be perfect.

"We have won our last two league games and, although my team is in good form and united, in football you can never be completely calm."

Napoli followed their 2-0 triumph over Novara with Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Lecce.

The result lifted Napoli to fourth position, just one place and one point behind third-placed Lazio, who travel to Udinese on Sunday.

Roma were also in contention for Europe's elite club competition until recently.

A dismal run of form which has seen the Giallorossi lose three of their last four league games, including Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina, has seen Roma drop to seventh place with four games left.

Roma coach Luis Enrique has urged his players to give their all in their remaining games.

"We are currently seventh and we deserve to be in this position," he said. "But there are still 12 points up for grabs and we have to fight until the end to qualify for the Europa League."

Roma will be bolstered by the return of goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and striker Bojan from suspension.

However, midfielder Daniele De Rossi, striker Erik Lamela and forward Daniel Osvaldo, who is the team's top scorer, are all suspended.

Napoli striker Goran Pandev returns from suspension but defender Hugo Campagnaro and striker Ezequiel Lavezzi are out injured.