Milan's Kaka to miss Lazio clash

Brief news from Serie A ahead of this weekend's matches.

* Kaka will miss AC Milan's home game against Lazio on Saturday to ensure he is fully fit, following a knee problem, for Tuesday's Champions League tie with Arsenal. "Kaka will definitely skip Lazio, we hope to have him at his best against Arsenal," Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani told the club's Web site (www.acmilan.com).

The 25-year-old World Player of the Year extended his contract with the European champions by two years until June 2013 on Thursday.

* Milan, who are aiming to regain fourth place after slipping to fifth, will again be without injured centre back Alessandro Nesta (thigh), goalkeeper Dida (back) and suspended full back Giuseppe Favalli, while defenders Marek Jankulovski and Serginho are doubtful because of fitness problems. Ronaldo is out for nine months with a ruptured knee tendon for Milan.

* Switzerland right back Valon Behrami returns from suspension for Lazio.

Former Manchester City forward Rolando Bianchi is pushing for his second consecutive start after scoring the penalty that gave the Rome club a 1-0 win over Reggina midweek.

* Leaders Inter are shorthanded in defence for Sunday's trip to Napoli after Brazilian Maxwell hurt his left ankle on Wednesday's 1-1 draw with AS Roma. The champions are also without the suspended Nicolas Burdisso at the back, while Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba are expected to miss the rest of the season with knee injuries. Main strike partnership Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee) and Julio Cruz (thigh) missed the Roma draw through injury and are unlikely to return for Napoli, Italian media said. Midfielders Cesar and Olivier Dacourt are injured too, while Esteban Cambiasso has leg muscle aches and may be rested.

* Napoli defender Maurizio Domizzi is suspended.

* Second-placed AS Roma, who trail Inter by nine points, will face Parma on Saturday (1700) without suspended centre back Philippe Mexes and injured full back Marco Cassetti. Mexes was sent off against Inter while Cassetti injured his shoulder that will probably sideline him for three weeks, including Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second leg at Real Madrid.

Brazilian duo Juan and Mancini should return to the starting line-up after recovering from knocks, while right back Christian Panucci remains a doubt with an ankle problem.

* French striker David Trezeguet should return for Juventus against Fiorentina in Turin on Sunday (1400). He missed two games suffering from the flu.

Third-placed Juve will be without Pavel Nedved, Cristiano and Giorgio Chiellini, all out through suspension.

Fiorentina will again be without their top striker Adrian Mutu because of a knee injury, while midfielders Franco Semioli and Fabio Liverani are doubts with knocks they suffered in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Livorno.