Second-placed Roma face a potentially troublesome trip to Empoli on Saturday, while Inter will be looking to extend their Serie A record of consecutive victories to 16 when they host Cagliari at the San Siro.

Some Italian bookmakers have already started paying out on Inter retaining the championship, but Totti feels there could still be a twist in the Scudetto chase.

"There are no certainties in football, and in the last few years the team that has been out in front has had a blip and that's something we have to keep reminding ourselves of," Totti told the Corriere dello Sport.

"We have a stronger squad here than a year ago and when changes are made they don't weaken us in any way.

"This superior quality we have will ensure we keep fighting till the very end."

Empoli are bearing the fruits of having kept many of their young players together over the past few campaigns, and defender Francesco Pratali is confident they can upset Roma.

"We always feel we can win, regardless of who we play," he said.

"Most of us have played together in Serie A for several years now and with experience comes maturity.

"A few years ago we probably used to go out on the pitch with some apprehension. But our mental strength has grown and it's starting to pay off."

If Inter beat Cagliari the club will surpass the best winning sequences recorded in the Spanish and German leagues.

Spain's Real Madrid won 15 games on the trot in the 1960-61 season, while Germany's Bayern Munich equalled the feat in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.

In fact, Inter have not lost for 28 matches in all competitions with their last defeat coming back on September 27 when they lost 2-0 at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The odds point to another Inter win on Saturday, but Cagliari coach Franco Colomba remains omptimistic about his improving team's chances.

"I always like to think positive and once in a while David slays Goliath," he said.

"And anyway, Inter have already won 15 games on the trot, so a defeat is overdue."

AC Milan's push for a Champions League place will strengthen if they win at Siena on Saturday where Brazilian striker Ronaldo is expected to start for the six-time European champions.

'The Phenomenon' made his debut for AC Milan last week, but only as a substitute in their 2-1 win over Livorno.

Catania, who have been forced to play behind closed doors at neutral grounds for the rest of the season as punishment for the crowd trouble at their Massimino stadium earlier this month when a policeman was killed during a riot, 'host' Fiorentina in Rimini.

Fixtures
(all 1400GMT kick-off)
Saturday
Empoli v Roma, Inter Milan v Cagliari, Siena v AC Milan
Sunday
Ascoli v Udinese, Catania v Fiorentina (at Rimini), Lazio v Torino, Livorno v Messina, Palermo v Chievo, Parma v Sampdoria, Reggina v Atalanta