Parma head into Week 23 of the 2010-11 Serie A campaign five points above the relegation zone in 15th. With 25 points from 22 matches, the Ducali have sustained hopes of survival in the Italian top flight especially with the bottom-three sides continuing to struggle for points.
At the weekend Pasquale Marino's side, though, slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Genoa to carry on their poor return of one win in four league encounters. After demolishing Juventus 4-1 in Turin in the opening match of the new year, Parma have stuttered and will hope to recover lost momentum at home tonight.
Parma have reinforced their squad with Italy international striker Amauri, who has come on loan from Juventus for until the end of the campaign. The 30-year-old is likely to start tonight and boasting an encouraging record at the Ennio Tardini, the Gialloblu will aspire for maximum points.
Flirting With Relegation
Lecce's current league position belies their form in January. The Giallorossi are one place and a point above third-from-bottom Cesena but having gone their last four league encounters unbeaten they are surely looking upward towards the sun.
The weekend's 1-1 draw with fellow relegation candidates Cesena was their third draw in a row in Serie A, prior to which the Lupi had defeated Lazio 2-1 in Rome. Six points in the last four matches have propelled them outside the bottom-three and coach Luigi De Canio will hope to maintain that run, although he also rues the dropped points against the Seahorses.
"The team has probably let its guard down slightly,'' said De Canio. "It's a real pity because we had chances in the first half to put the game beyond our rivals' reach.
"A win would have been a huge morale boost in our battle against the drop. We should have defended better in the last stages of the game. Now we must look ahead to another battle at Parma on Wednesday.''
TEAM NEWS
Parma
Pisano and Calvo are injured and are unavailable.
Lecce
Giuliatto, Ofere and Di Michele are injured and will not travel to Parma.
Prediction
Parma will start the match as favourites and should be confident of a win.
Parma 2-1 Lecce 
