Udinese vs Fiorentina preview - Udinese keeping grounded

Fear of relegation is still the only thing motivating Udinese head coach Francesco Guidolin, despite a run of results that has seen the Bianconeri enter the race for Europe.

A 3-0 victory over Inter Milan cemented the club's ambition to earn a top-six berth in Serie A for the third season running, while Sunday's opponents Fiorentina suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Pescara to lose ground in the title race.

Udinese are currently unbeaten in five, losing only one game in 12 and only once at home all season, but Guidolin is refusing to get carried away.

He said: "I was convinced by our project before and Sunday's result further strengthened my belief.

"But now we must remain humble with a capital `H', trying to get as many points as possible without being drawn into dangerous flights of fancy.

"Inter are behind us and now Fiorentina are in our near future. This is a league where the top six or seven teams will be busy struggling against each other for a long time."

Midfielder Emmanuel Badu and defender Mehdi Benatia have departed for the African Cup of Nations, with striker Diego Fabbrini facing a late fitness test before Fiorentina arrive in the north east.

"They are a strong and determined team," Guidolin added. "The defeat to Pescara? They played the same formation they beat us with in the Coppa Italia.

"They did not deserve to lose but unfortunately that is the harsh world we live in."

Fiorentina striker Luca Toni is less concerned with the bottom half of the table but believes holding onto a top-four spot will be a tall order.

"Qualifying for the Champions League is possible," he said. "However, it will be tough.

"We will need to fight until the very end and it will be a battle. There will be highs and lows, but we'll look to do it."

Head coach Vincenzo Montella must face an in-form Udinese side without suspended midfielder Ruben Oliveira, with Ahmed Hegazi, Michele Camporese and David Pizarro all struggling to recover from injury.

Fiorentina are without a league win at the Stadio Friuli since November 2009, but Viola midfielder Borja Valero secured the 1-0 Coppa Italia victory in Udine last month.