Pippo: This could be Milan's moment

AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi hopesb his side can begin to live up to their potential when they square off against Napoli on Sunday.

The Rossoneri have managed one win from their last seven Serie A games.

Last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Genoa was Milan's third defeat of the campaign and dropped the San Siro outfit to seventh in the table, two places and three points adrift of Sunday's opponents.

"The game against Napoli is very important," Inzaghi told his club's official website.

"We hope we can do well. I hope Milan's moment arrives.

"We are way too inconsistent. We do certain things well and others not so well."

Inzaghi did not expect to have an easy job when he grabbed the reins in the summer.

"I knew that I didn't have the magic wand," he said. "We just have to be patient and little by little, we will return to be where we deserve to be."

Milan have in the past had some very successful seasons in the Champions League, but this term they are not even competing in the Europa League.

Inzaghi, meanwhile, has come out in support of misfiring striker Keisuke Honda, who has not scored in his last seven league appearances.

The Japanese winger enjoyed a strong start to the season with six goals and he set up two more yet he has not found the back of the net since October 19.

"Everyone expects the moon from him," Inzaghi said. "But even if he doesn't score, I am satisfied with his performances.

"He is a very important player for the team.

"Honda is a great professional and always gives his all on the pitch."

Honda and Spanish forward Fernando Torres, who has scored just once since joining Milan on loan from Chelsea this summer, are set to be benched this weekend.

Inzaghi is set to field Jeremy Menez alongside Stephan El Shaarawy in attack.

Napoli have drawn their last three league games but travel to San Siro on the back of Thursday's 3-0 triumph over Slovan Bratislava.

The midweek win saw the Naples outfit progress to the last 32 of the Europa League as Group I winners.

"We head into the match with a lot more confidence," coach Rafa Benitez said. "But we know we will have to be on our guard in order to win.

"Milan have good quality players, even Torres, who scored so many goals for me while at Liverpool and Chelsea.

"They have an attacking style mentality and they are playing at home."

The visitors are without the injured trio of Michu, Lorenzo Insigne and Juan Zuniga as well as midfielder Christian Maggio, who is suspended.