Inter Milan vs Juventus preview - More to the season than the match against Inter for Allegri

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri insists his side's title hopes do not rest on Sunday's clash with Inter Milan.

Juve have dominated Serie A for the last four years but head into this weekend's game in the midst of their worst start since 1980-81, with just two wins and three defeats in their opening seven games.

Allegri's men have kept just one clean sheet so far and are 12th in the standings, 10 points adrift of leaders Fiorentina.

"Tomorrow is not going to be a knockout round, nor will it be decisive for the Scudetto," Allegri told the club's official website.

"That said, it is still the Derby d'Italia and will be a fantastic game to play in, in front of 80,000 spectators and seen around the world. We're certainly not lacking motivation.

"The plan is to be in the running for the title in March and reaching that period in the best form. The statistics tell us we concede too many goals.

"Right now, the table says that Inter are the favourites, Roma second, Napoli third and fourth is us. Indeed, before us there is Milan with nine points.

"Fiorentina are in the lead and are having a great season, I think they are one of the candidates fighting for the top places - but not for the final victory."

Juve expect to have France midfielder Paul Pogba and Spain forward Alvaro Morata available despite minor knocks suffered on international duty.

Allegri will also monitor Morata's attacking colleagues and said: "Mario Mandzukic is in the squad and I'll evaluate his condition, as with Paulo Dybala."

However, defender Martin Caceres has been ruled out for 15 days with a sprained left ankle sustained while playing for Uruguay.

Inter, in second place and just two points behind Fiorentina, have not beaten Juve at the San Siro in their last five meetings but could open up an 11-point gap on the champions with a win.

The international break came at the right time for Roberto Mancini's men.

Inter followed their 4-1 shock defeat at home to Fiorentina, their first loss of the campaign, with a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria last time out.

"The loss to Fiorentina was a lesson for us, even though it was an isolated case," Inter winger Ivan Perisic told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Juve have an excellent group and in order to beat them, we have to raise our game. The supporters at San Siro can lend us a great hand."

Top scorer Stevan Jovetic has recovered from a muscular injury that saw him sit out his team's last two league games and is set to lead the Nerazzurri attack alongside Mauro Icardi, with Perisic playing in support.

Felipe Melo will feature in midfield and was happy to stoke up the match as he revealed on Friday he could have joined Inter instead of Juve in 2009.

"Seven years ago I could have become an Inter player. [Jose] Mourinho wanted me, and I wanted him.

"In the end I went to Fiorentina, then to Juventus and then Galatasaray, where I won a lot.

"Juve was a mistake, I'd have been better going to Inter, I'd have won the treble."

Inter won Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League under Mourinho in 2010.