Sampdoria - Palermo preview - Mihajlovic made up with super Samp

Sampdoria coach Sinisa Mihajlovic is beaming with pride ahead of his team's home game against Palermo on Sunday.

The Genoese outfit followed up their 1-0 victory over Empoli with a 2-0 triumph at Parma last weekend to climb to fourth in Serie A.

Samp are now level on 33 points with third-placed Napoli, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

"We are having a great season," MIhajlovic told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "No one could have expected us to be as high up in the standings after 19 games.

"We have taken 33 points and lost just twice in Serie A.

"All the merit belongs to my players, who believe in what they do.

"They work hard and they take responsibility regardless of whether they play or not. "

Samp, who are hoping to lure Everton forward Samuel Eto'o to Genoa this month, strengthened their squad this week with the arrivals of defender Andrea Coda and striker Luis Muriel from Udinese.

Both players have joined the Blucerchiati on loan until the end of the season with options to make their moves permanent this summer.

Coda is expected to be on the bench against Palermo while Muriel, who is struggling with a muscular problem, will not feature this weekend.

Palermo will need to play at their very best if they are to end Samp's unbeaten run at home this season.

The Sicilians last won on the road on November 2 but have put in some battling displays.

Palermo lost 4-3 at Fiorentina before holding Scudetto contenders Roma to a 1-1 draw last weekend to climb to 10th in the table.

"I have no complaints," said Palermo coach Giuseppe Iachini. "My players are giving their best and are showing the right mentality.

"We keep improving and this is a good sign for the future."

Iachini will have all of his players available for the trip to Genoa.

Paolo Dybala and Franco Vazquez will lead Palermo's attack, with the Argentinian duo having formed a fearsome strike partnership in recent months.

Dybala has scored 10 goals so far and set up another six while Vazquez has found the back of the net five times and come up with six assists.b