Lazio vs Torino preview - Cerci: I won't abandon Torino

Torino striker Alessio Cerci has declared his wish to remain at the club next season ahead of Saturday's game at Lazio.

The 26-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to city rivals Juventus this summer after another impressive campaign.

Cerci, who is under contract until June 2016, scored his 13th goal of the campaign to hand Torino a 2-1 win over Genoa last Sunday.

"I have never felt such strong emotions as I did when scoring against Genoa," Cerci said. "It was the most beautiful goal of my career and it was an incredible win.

"Torino is like a family to me and I have no intention to abandon them."

Cerci had reason to be ecstatic as for the second straight week his team made a late comeback to clinch three points.

The win over Genoa, which followed their 2-1 triumph at Catania, kept Torino in the race to play European football next season.

Torino are seventh in the standings, five points behind Inter Milan, who are fifth and hold the last Europa League qualifying spot.

"Who would have thought six months ago that we would be in this position in the standings," Torino coach Giampiero Ventura said. "It still feels strange to hear that Saturday's game at Lazio is a battle between two teams looking to play in Europe next season."

Lazio go into the encounter at the Stadio Olimpico looking to bounce back from their 4-2 defeat at Napoli last time out.

The loss dropped Lazio two places behind Torino although the team from the capital are level on 48 points with Saturday's rivals.

"It's a pity because the teams that are ahead of us in the standings have gained ground on us," Lazio coach Edy Reja said.

Lazio will fancy their chances of taking a positive result this weekend as they have lost just three times at home this season and Torino have mustered just one win in their last six games on the road.

The hosts are without suspended defender Lorik Cana as well as injured pair Alvaro Gonzalez and Miroslav Klose.

The good news for Reja is that Argentinian midfielder Lucas Biglia returns from suspension.