World champions Italy are expected to change formation for Friday's must-win Euro 2008 match against Romania, observers here say.
Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero may get his first start since September after doing well as substitute in the second half of the 3-0 defeat to Netherlands Monday, pundits think.
Another second-half sub, Lyon left back Fabio Grosso, is likely to play while AS Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi and Juventus centre back Giorgio Chiellini are other strong tips.
Coach Roberto Donadoni is playing his cards close to his chest as usual but his opposite number Victor Piturca said Thursday he expected to be facing both Serie A top marksman Del Piero and De Rossi, the engine of the Roma team that ran Inter Milan so close for the scudetto.
Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano, who set up a great chance for striker Luca Toni after coming on late against Holland, may see more action this time.
Toni hinted he might be happier with Del Piero and Cassano providing ammunition.
''Playing with Antonio and Alessandro we are more attacking...they create a lot,'' the Bayern Munich front man told a press conference.
But Donadoni is unlikely to give in to media criticism and could start the same wingers - Antonio Di Natale of Udinese and Juve's Mauro Camoranesi - he used against the Dutch.
The coach noted that Tuesday's match could have gone very differently if two early Di Natale chances had been taken.
Piturca will be without first-choice striker Ciprian Marica after a clash of heads in training Tuesday so Daniel Niculae is expected to take over.
In midfield, Paul Codrea may replace Razvan Cocis.
Italy face Romania on Friday the 13th in the 13th match of the 13th European championships.
But in Italy the lucky number is 17 - the date of next week's 'Group of Death' clincher against defeated World Cup Final rivals France.
Italy is bidding to become only the second team in history to add the European crown to the World Cup.
