Torino 1 - 2 Livorno

Torino v Livorno: Preview

Updated: January 12, 2008, 3:32 AM ET

TURIN, January 12 (Serie A) - Draw specialists Livorno and Torino will meet in Turin on Sunday with both clubs looking to put some distance between themselves and the drop zone.

Livorno go into the encounter just one point clear of the bottom three in Serie A while Toro are two points better off than the Tuscan outfit.

Toro have drawn their last two games while Livorno have taken three points from their last three encounters.

Central defender Cesare Natali has warned his Torino team-mates they can not afford to underestimate this weekend's opponents.

"We face a team that has taken seven consecutive positive results,'' he said.

"(Francesco) Tavano and (Diego) Tristan are among their best players but as a whole they have a decent squad and we must remain alert.

"However, we too enjoyed a decent spell before the break. We became competitive when we had all our players available and close to 100% fitness.''

Toro coach Walter Novellino is aware of the importance of Sunday's game.

The Granata outfit have relied on their results at home having failed to win on the road this campaign.

And Novellino is aware his team will have to give their all against Livorno, especially if they wish to avoid another stalemate, with Toro having drawn five of their eight home games so far this season.

"It's a very important game for us,'' he said. "This is going to be a tough test because Giancarlo Camolese has done a good job so far at Livorno and we must expect a tough encounter.''

Sunday's game will mark the return of Camolese to Turin.

Camolese started his managerial career as Torino's youth coach. He then took charge of the first team in 2001 and led the Granata to immediate promotion to Serie A and a safe escape from relegation one year later before being dismissed in 2002.

Camolese took the reins of strugglers Livorno last October, and despite a negative start with defeats against Lazio and Parma, his team managed to bounce back by taking seven consecutive positive results before the Christmas break.

However, Livorno travel north knowing that a defeat at Turin's Stadio Olimpico could see them drop into the relegation zone, although they do have a game in hand with their fixture against AC Milan postponed last month because of the Rossoneri's involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Leghorn-based club have strengthened their defence with the signing of Sidny from Brazilian club Nautico, while it remains to be seen if highly-rated goalkeeper Marco Amelia will stay at Livorno.

The Italian international has been strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona but will return to the starting XI on Sunday having recovered from a minor injury.

The visitors will also be without injured midfield duo Antonio Filippini and Nico Pulzetti.

Torino will have to do without suspended midfielder Vincenzo Grella while defenders Matteo Rubin and Marco Motta are out of action through injury.