Buffon set to return for short-handed Juve

Brief news ahead of this weekend's matches in Italy's Serie A:

* Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is set to return to league action for Juventus against Fiorentina in Turin tomorrow but the second-placed side remain short handed because of bans and injuries.

Defender Cristian Molinaro and midfielder Momo Sissoko are suspended, while the long list of unfit players is expected to include centre back Giorgio Chiellini and winger Mauro Camoranesi, who are battling to overcome thigh muscle and calf problems.

Italy international Buffon's return to Serie A from three months out with a leg injury was delayed last week because of a bout of flu he suffered after playing in an Italian Cup win over Catania.

* Sixth-placed Fiorentina are unable to call on suspended full back Gianluca Comotto, while Romania forward Adrian Mutu is expected to be out for 10 more days with an elbow injury, the club said on their website (it.violachannel.tv).

Sebastien Frey should be back between the posts after missing last week's 1-0 defeat at Milan with a knee problem.

* Inter boss Jose Mourinho is likely to field 18-year-old Mario Balotelli in the place of suspended Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic when the leaders entertain Sampdoria on Sunday, according to media reports.

Balotelli is edging back into favour with Mourinho after dropping a request to be loaned out that had irritated the Portuguese coach.

* Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano is a doubt because of a neck injury while the visitors will be without suspended defender Stefano Lucchini.

* Kaka will be at the centre of attention again when AC Milan visit Bologna on Sunday in the Brazil playmaker's first league game after Manchester City's massive bid for him failed.

Loan signing David Beckham is being tipped to get his third consecutive Serie A start for third-placed Milan, while Marek Jankulovski is suspended after being sent off against Fiorentina.

* Genoa should welcome back their top-scorer Diego Milito in Sunday's home clash with Catania after the Argentine missed the surprise fourth-placed package's run of three wins in their last three Serie A games through injury.

* Captain Francesco Totti may return to resurgent Roma's squad for Sunday's visit to Napoli as he is back in training with his team mates after suffering a thigh muscle injury in December. Totti scored four goals in a practice match on Wednesday, media said.