Milan travel to Rome's Olympic Stadium on the back of two poor results and continuing speculation about the future of coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Sampdoria at San Siro left them a distant third in the standings with 47 points, a massive 12 points behind leaders Juventus.

That was followed by a 3-0 Italian Cup quarterfinal, second leg defeat at Palermo on Tuesday that knocked them out of the competition 3-1 on aggregate prompting critics to suggest the Champions League is their only hope of silverware this season.

That suggestion is refuted by Shevchenko, however.

"We're going through a bad patch but there are still plenty of matches to play -- and I'm not just referring to the Champions League," the former European Footballer of the Year was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport this week.

"So far Milan has earned two points more (in Serie A) than it did at this stage last season but the incredible performances by Juventus have made us look weaker by comparison," he added.

The 29-year-old denied that his focus had already shifted to this month's Champions League tie with Bayern Munich as Milan prepare for their last 16 showdown.

"It's too soon to think about Bayern. There are still three weeks before we play them. Today my first priority is Lazio," said the Ukraine striker.

"I don't like doing things by halves. When I play in Serie A, that's what I concentrate on. I don't look ahead. I just take one match at a time."

Regardless of whether Milan's domestic challenge is over, they could do with a repeat of the confidence-boosting 2-0 win against Lazio earlier this season that triggered a run of eight straight Serie A victories.

This time, however, they won't have home advantage and Lazio are unbeaten at the Olympic Stadium this term.

Milan's anxieties will be compounded by some erratic recent performances by goalkeeper Dida, who was oddly immobile when Andrea Gasbarroni fired home Sampdoria's equaliser on Saturday.

Lazio, meanwhile, welcome back Paolo Di Canio from suspension as they continue their push for a UEFA Cup place.

Second-placed Inter (51 points) face a tricky game against in-form Chievo, who thrashed Reggina 4-0 last week, while Juve will aim to maintain their 100 percent home record in Serie A against mid-table Udinese at the Stadio delle Alpi.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goal drought, which has lasted since November, means the Swede is again expected to start on the bench for the leaders, with Alessandro Del Piero taking his place up front alongside David Trezeguet.

Fourth-placed Fiorentina (44 points) have a relatively easy game against bottom club Lecce while Roma, in fifth (39), aim to notch up a seventh consecutive Serie A win as they visit Parma.