Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi has vowed to name his strongest team for Thursday evening's Europa League clash with Salzburg, since it could now provide his side with their most viable route into next season's Champions League.
The Biancocelesti are just two steps away from next month's final and, after dropping out of the top four in Serie A, winning the Europa League has moved up on the list of priorities. That is why Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Stefan Radu and Senad Lulic should all start in Inzaghi's first-choice team.
"It's a possibility [that Lazio can win the Europa League] and it is an important objective," Inzaghi told a news conference. "Last year, we did all we could to get back into Europe and this season we are honouring the competition.
"We don't want to stop here. The objective is in view and we can make it. I'd really like to lead Lazio into their first [European] semifinal in many years. I was on the field in those days and certainly this gives us an additional motivation."
Further motivation will come from what is expected to be Lazio's largest crowd for a European game this season, with 35,000 expected at the Stadio Olimpico.
"I hope even more than 35,000 come," Inzaghi said. "Our fans are very important to us."
Inzaghi is not going to take Salzburg lightly, though, saying that the tie is finely poised. The Austrians eliminated one of the tournament favourites, Borussia Dortmund, in the last round and that is enough of a warning to the Serie A side.
"We've got a 50 percent chance of going through," Inzaghi said. "We've studied them well and we're going to have to ensure we don't make any mistakes. We need to win to gain enthusiasm and it's going to be important not to concede."