(ANSA) - Rome, November 19 - Juventus are determined to beat a depleted Udinese Sunday to keep up the pressure on leaders Inter Milan.

"It's a decisive game for us and we have to try to win it," said keeper Gigi Buffon.

"I know they'll be missing key players, especially my Italy teammates (Antonio) Di Natale and (Simone) Pepe, but they'll be just as dangerous".

Buffon noted that Juve had dropped unexpected points at home, allowing Inter to move into a five-point lead.

"We can't afford to make any more slip-ups".

He said Juve were aiming to get a full tally of six points from Udinese and their next match at Cagliari to go into a December 5 showdown with Inter in the best position possible.

Juve's all-time top scorer Alessandro Del Piero is itching to play for the first time this season after being kept out of the running at club and international level with back and thigh woes.

Without their talismanic skipper, Juve coach Ciro Ferrara has switched to using a lone striker with three support forwards farther back.

The veteran striker has in the past resisted dropping back, insisting his best place is nearer goal.

But now he says he's "totally willing to do anything," including playing out of his favoured position, to get as much time on the field as possible to reclaim an Italy spot.

The 35-year-old, who is desperate for a swansong in South Africa after helping Italy win the World Cup in Germany, is not expected to start Sunday but may come on for in-form winger Mauro Camoranesi late in the game, pundits think.

Up front, David Trezeguet will lead the line in the absence of Vincenzo Iaquinta who is nursing a swollen knee.

Midfielder Claudio Marchisio is ready to return after six weeks out injured. Some think the absence of the Italy player had a lot to do with Juve's stuttering form in that period.

For joint-12th Udinese, Serie A top scorer Di Natale is suspended while Pepe is injured along with another forward, Alexis Sanchez.

Juve know they must take advantage of Udinese's injury problems to stay in touch with Inter who appear to have an easier proposition away to struggling Bologna on Saturday.

AC Milan have surged up to third on 22 points, two behind Juve, thanks to a bold attacking approach in which Pato and Marco Borriello have thrived and the previously sluggish Ronaldinho shown some of his old tricks.

Leonardo's men face a strong challenge at the San Siro Sunday in the shape of in-form Cagliari.

The Sardinians have risen to 8th place in the past few weeks and been rewarded by seeing key players like goalie Federico Marchetti and midfielder Davide Biondini earn plaudits in Italy coach Marcello Lippi's recent experimental line-ups.

Fourth-place Fiorentina, a point behind Milan on 21, host Parma, a point below them, on Saturday, with Italy striker Alberto Gilardino hoping to keep up his fine run and winger Marco Marchionni buoyed by his solid display in Italy's 1-0 win against Sweden in a friendly Wednesday.

Sampdoria, also on 21 points, host joint-12th Chievo while Genoa, on 20 points like Parma, travel to Livorno, which is above the relegation zone on goal difference alone.