Sampdoria and Cagliari return from the Christmas break with 10 points separating the clubs in the Serie A standings.
While the home side sit in 15th position ahead of Thursday's fixture, Cagliari are down in 19th spot, six points adrift of safety.
Match preview
Throughout the campaign, Sampdoria have endured various streaks, both positive and negative, and it has left Roberto D'Aversa's side struggling to keep pace with the mid-table clubs.
Nevertheless, Sampdoria went into the Christmas break having put together a three-game unbeaten run, collecting five points from matches with Genoa, Venezia and Roma.
Although the home draw with Venezia was frustrating, Sampdoria responded by claiming a late share of the spoils at Stadio Olimpico courtesy of another goal from Manolo Gabbiadini.
Despite having failed to make a contribution in the league until November 30, the former Southampton forward has now netted in five successive Serie A fixtures.
With a 2-1 victory over Torino in the Coppa Italia also featuring in their upturn in results, D'Aversa will be confident of extending that streak against Cagliari.
Regardless of their only top-flight win of the season coming against their next opponents, they have remained alarmingly off the pace throughout the campaign.
Their current winless run stands at 11 matches and although four draws have been recorded during that run, their most recent three outings have ended in defeat without troubling the scoresheet.
Defeats at Inter Milan and Juventus would have been expected, but succumbing to a 4-0 home setback at the hands of Udinese had certainly not been anticipated.
Walter Mazzarri's team have scored just five times in nine away fixtures this season, and it is difficult to see them getting back to winning ways at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
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Team News
Despite coming off injured last time out and his future remaining in some doubt, Albin Ekdal should keep his spot in the Sampdoria XI.
However, D'Aversa faces several selection issues with Wladimiro Falcone and Tommaso Augello out due to coronavirus and Kristoffer Askildsen serving a suspension.
Emil Audero, Nicola Murru and Morten Thorsby are seemingly in line to be handed a recall to the team, while Alex Ferrari could replace Omar Colley who is representing Gambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Cagliri will be without Dalbert after the midfielder collected his fifth yellow card of the season last time out.
Christian Oliva may come in for his first start of the season, but several Cagliari players are pushing for returns after injury.
Gaston Pereiro could retain his spot in attack with Keita Balde away on international duty with Senegal.
Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Audero; Bereszynski, Yoshida, Ferrari, Murru; Candreva, Silva, Ekdal, Thorsby; Gabbiadini, Caputo
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Cragno; Bellanova, Zappa, Ceppitelli, Carboni, Lykogiannis; Deiola, Grassi, Oliva; Pereiro, Pedro
We say: Sampdoria 2-1 Cagliari
The Christmas break undoubtedly came at the right time for Cagliari and wrong time for Sampdoria. Nevertheless, we do not feel that it will have any baring on the end result on Thursday, with Sampdoria likely to claim another hard-earned victory.
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