Chievo vs Cesena preview - Maran upbeat over Chievo hopes

Chievo's resurrection starts now, according to head coach Rolando Maran, whose team host fellow strugglers Cesena on Sunday afternoon.

The Flying Donkeys now prop up the Serie A table after Parma beat Inter Milan to climb into 19th spot, yet victory over the other club in the bottom three could lift Chievo out of the drop zone.

The Verona outfit have not won a match since mid-September, however, and their Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi base has not witnessed a home triumph since May.

Former Catania boss Maran earned his first point since taking charge when Chievo ground out a goalless draw with Sassuolo and he believes his players are now ready to go one step further.

He told La Repubblica Sport: "You have to pick up points from these kinds of games if you are going to avoid relegation.

"Not conceding goals is a big step forward and, even though it's unfortunate we didn't get the win (against Sassuolo), it's given the whole team a lift and we're far from being unhappy."

Midfielder Mariano Izco, winger Ezequiel Schelotto and striker Ruben Botta are all sidelined through injury, while Pierpaolo Bisoli has a major personnel crisis to deal with at Cesena.

Franco Brienza, Guido Marilungo, Riccardo Cazzola, Alejandro Rodriguez and Francesco Renzetti are among the players who remain in the treatment room.

Goalkeeper Nicola Leali will complete a three-match ban this weekend, meaning Federico Agliardi keeps hold of the gloves.

A 1-1 draw with Hellas Verona was not enough to extricate Cesena from 18th place last time out, but head coach Bisoli is confident his club will have done enough to survive come May.

"When we try to play at a fast pace we can cause teams trouble, but we need to keep our focus when we concede goals," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We still have work to do in order to save ourselves before the final day of the season. Now we have to go to Chievo, where we will try to win.

"I'm totally sure my guys will be celebrating staying up in May."