PREVIEW: Milan to test their worth without Ibra

Leaders AC Milan are called to show what they can do without star Zlatan Ibrahimovic when they visit troubled Palermo late Saturday looking to preserve their five-point lead on Serie A holders Inter Milan.

   The Swede this week received a three-game ban for hitting an opponent off the ball and is also to miss a city derby against Inter on April 2.

   With his top goal-getter and assist provider confined to the stands, coach Massimiliano Allegri can still field Brazilian Pato and Antonio Cassano, with the other Brazilian Robinho ready to come on.

   "Ibrahimovic is fundamental, but at Milan there are also other champions who can play very well," Pato said this week. "I am very much at ease with Cassano. I have been looking to play with him for a while. Now I can. I am very happy about it."

   Pato boasts three less goals than Ibra's 14, but was not as present on the pitch due to a muscular problem that sidelined him from mid-November to early January.

   Cassano only scored twice since arriving from Sampdoria in January, but found a crucial equalizer last weekend in an embarrassing 1-1 draw to bottom side Bari.

   The Devils' slip up at home followed a bitter elimination from the Champions League, where they drew 0-0 at Tottenham after a 1-0 defeat in the first leg.

   With the derby scheduled after a weekend dedicated to international games, winning at Palermo is crucial for Milan as Inter welcome lowly Lecce Sunday with morale buoyed after beating Bayern Munich 3-2 to secure the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

   Palermo, however, can be dangerous as they are desperate to rebound from five straight defeats.

   The past weekend was fruitful for Napoli, who won 3-1 at Parma to draw within one point of Inter - held to a 1-1 draw at strugglers Brescia.

   With nine games left in what they will anyway consider a great season, the Naples side welcome Cagliari late Sunday.

   Praise for their fast, sparkling game has poured on fourth-place Udinese and their 24-goal top striker Antonio Di Natale, who scored six goals in the past three games and Sunday is set to trouble lowly Catania.

   Lazio open the weekend Saturday at minnows Cesena after losing a city derby to Roma, who visit Fiorentina at noon Sunday.

   Another glum season is continuing for Juventus, lying seven points from a Europa League berth when they welcome second-last Brescia.

   Bologna and Genoa clash at mid-table, Chievo are relatively safe when they visit bottom side Chievo, while Sampdoria and Parma are desperate for points as they linger by the drop zone.