Lazio vs AS Roma - Rome derby may prove a swansong for Totti

Francesco Totti could be about to get his last taste of an Eternal City derby as Roma consider setting the veteran striker free at the end of the season.

The 39-year-old has spent his entire career with Roma, making his debut in March 1993, but time appears to have caught up with the 2006 World Cup winner.

Totti has made only six Serie A appearances and two cameos in the Champions League this season, and his recent decision to complain about his role saw him summarily exiled to the stands.

Reports in Italy suggest the Roman has offered to play one last year with his hometown club for free, with his wages being donated to charity, but the American board is said to be ready to let him go.

Should Totti appear in Sunday's derby meeting with Lazio, he will hope to add to his 11-goal tally against the Biancocelesti, who have not trumped their rivals in the league since November 2012.

This time around the club who finished third last term have nothing to play for but pride. The nearest guaranteed Europa League berth is 13 points away and fifth-placed Inter Milan are unlikely to budge.

Roma, on the other hand, could still wrestle second spot from Napoli after boss Luciano Spalletti led an eight-game winning run following his reappointment in January.

But Greek defender Kostas Manolas is fully aware the opposition will be free from the pressure of ambition.

"Lazio have nothing to lose, they're already out of Europe and they'll just want to win this game," he told asroma.com.

"A derby is always a derby, we'll begin the game with one thought in our minds - winning.

"The atmosphere won't be like last season, but when you're a professional you always have to play, with or without the fans. You have to do your job and do it as well as you can.

"We're the better side and we have to show that. I'm sure that we'll achieve our goal."

Also counting against Lazio are their personnel problems, with Stefan de Vrij, Dusan Basta and Stefan Radu all missing through injury.

German striker Miroslav Klose, 37, has a 60 per cent chance of playing, having hurt himself during Lazio's humbling 3-0 home defeat to Sparta Prague in the Europa League.

Head coach Stefano Pioli has steadfastly refused to resign despite threatening to emulate Edy Reja's poor accomplishment in 2013-14, when the Biancocelesti finished ninth.

He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I have to put on a brave face. I want us to finish the season professionally and with a sense of pride. Will I throw in the towel? No.

"I have to look at myself because I'm the one who leads training. But we could all do more.

"We are working with passion and enthusiasm but we have not been able to meet pre-season expectations, which were high."