ROME, Oct 16 (Reuters) -
Surprise Italian league leaders Fiorentina face another huge test when they travel to Rome on Saturday to tackle AS Roma at the Olympic Stadium.
New look Fiorentina, now coached by the highly experienced Giovanni Trapattoni, have a made a bright start to the season, winning all four Serie A games played so far.
They lead the table by two points from second placed Inter Milan with AC Milan and Juventus a further point away in joint third.
A 3-1 away win against AC Milan and a last minute 1-0 win against Udinese in their last two Serie A outings suggested that Fiorentina's good start may be more than a flash in the autumnal pan.
Fiorentina's good league form has been carried into cup competitions with the club so far winning seven and drawing one of its eight Serie A, UEFA Cup and Italian Cup games this season.
On Tuesday, they continue their European campaign away to Swiss side Grasshoppers in a UEFA Cup tie while, on the same
day, Roma are at home to English club Leeds, also in the UEFA Cup.
Looking forward to Saturday's game, Fiorentina's Argentine captain Gabriel Batistuta, now in his eighth season with the club, admits that it is difficult to know the exact worth of his side, commenting: ``No one can say just how far this Fiorentina will go.
``In all honesty, none of us knows...but why shouldn't we think about winning the title?.''
Batistuta's team mate, defender Pasquale Padalino, agrees with his captain, saying: ``This is only the fifth day of the season but already I feel something special in the air, something changed from last season.
``If we win in Rome, we stay out in front on our own and that's a terrific sensation.''
Roma's French defender, Vincent Candela, fresh from scoring his first ever goal for his country in France's 2-0 European Championship win against little Andorra on Wednesday, is not so impressed by his opponents: ``They have Batistuta, one of the best players in the world, it is true, but we have (Francesco) Totti.
``As for the rest, on a man for man basis, we're the stronger and more complete side...I don't think that Fiorentina will win the title.''
Fiorentina will be without injured Italian international midfielder Sandro Cois but can still field their impressive strike force of Batistuta, flanked by Brazilian Edmundo and Belgian Luis Oliveira.
Christian Amoroso replaces Cois alongside German Jorg Heinrich and Portugal's Rui Costa in midfield with Czech defender Thomas Repka lining up alongside Padalino in central defence.
Roma appear to have more serious selection problems since Brazilian defender Aldair is suspended and Brazilian triker Paulo Sergio is out through injury.
Roma's controversial coach, Czech Zdenek Zeman, the man whose comments sparked off the current doping investigations into Italian soccer, is also contemplating further change to his defence by dropping Brazilian Zago.
Carmine Gautieri replaces Paulo Sergio in attack while Fabio Petruzzi and Cameroon's Pierre Wome may form a new central
defensive partnership.
When the sides last met last season, they drew 0-0 in Florence last October while Roma were emphatic 4-1 winners in the return leg at the Olympic Stadium in March.