Cagliari vs Lazio preview - Lazio aim to stay on winning streak

Red-hot Lazio go into Saturday's game at Cagliari looking to pick up where they left off before the international break.

The Biancoceleste, winners of six straight league games, are third in the Serie A table and hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

They are one point adrift of city rivals Roma and four points clear of Sampdoria.

"Perhaps the international break did not come at the best time for us because we had reeled off six straight wins and our enthusiasm was sky high," Lazio midfielder Antonio Candreva told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We know we have big games ahead of us and we will try to be ready for them.

"We want to return to play in Europe and give our all in our remaining 10 games."

Lazio, who beat Hellas Verona 2-0 last time out, have shown few signs of weakness.

Stefano Pioli's men have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six league games while they have found the back of the net 14 times in as many matches.

Cagliari are winless since January 24 and their 3-1 defeat at AC Milan last time out kept the Sardinian outfit in 18t place, five points adrift of safety.

The Islanders have yet to come out triumphant since coach Zdenek Zeman returned to guide Cagliari after Gianfranco Zola was sacked last month.

Cagliari have not scored more than one goal since their last victory and know they must step up their game if they are to avoid the drop.

"Against Lazio, we have to do the impossible to take three points," Cagliari defender Antonio Balzano said. "We will only save ourselves if we take points against every rival.

"We are confident we can do well on Saturday."

Cagliari have lost three of their last four games at the Sant' Elia stadium and will be without defender Luca Ceppitelli, who must serve a one-match ban.