Filippo Inzaghi is fully aware of what’s at stake for Pisa against Juve Stabia this weekend, as second meets sixth in Serie B.

“We need to be fully aware of the importance of this match,” the former Juventus and AC Milan striker said.

“We’re expecting a difficult game, they’re on a good run and won convincingly in their last match. But we’re at home, and we need to use that to our advantage.

“Our opponents must fear coming to play Pisa at the Arena Garibaldi. That’s the winning mentality I want to see from the team.”

The stakes are indeed very high for Pisa on Saturday. For so long the pace-setters in Serie B, the Tuscans have lost touch with Sassuolo over the past two weeks after losing at home to Cittadella and conceding a late equaliser away against Cesena on Sunday despite having an extra man on the pitch following Daniele Donnarumma’s red card.

The draw in Emilia-Romagna left the Nerazzurri seven points behind Sassuolo, who could further extend their lead if they beat Sampdoria in Genoa on Friday night, and four points ahead of Spezia.

If there is a silver lining to be found for Inzaghi is that the Ligurians have failed to capitalise on Pisa’s blip over the past two weeks, drawing both of their fixtures.

At the same time, with a trip to Sassuolo looming large at the beginning of next month, the Nerazzurri must snap their winless run on Saturday or the automatic promotion spot that seemed all but sealed only a few weeks ago may slip through their fingers.

It is worth remembering that few expected Pisa to be challenging for promotion and certainly not in this fashion. 

The Tuscans led the table for three months until the end of November and have never been outside the top three in Serie B save for their draw against Spezia on the opening day of the season. It is a remarkable transformation for a club that last played in Serie A in 1991 and finished 13th last term with a negative goal difference, just five points clear of the relegation zone.

With Adrian Rus and Alexander Lind returning from their suspensions, Inzaghi will have a near-full squad to choose from on Saturday, save for long-term absentees Tomas Esteves and Mehdi Leris. Lind is expected to reclaim his spot up-front alongside Matteo Tramoni and Stefano Moreo, while Rus will battle for a place in the starting XI with Giovanni Bonfanti and Arturo Calabresi.

If Pisa have stumbled over the past two weeks, Juve Stabia continue to defy expectations. The Stabians have won three of their last four, with the only defeat in that stretch coming away against Sassuolo, scoring eight times in the process, a veritable goal rush for a team that found the net on average once every 90 minutes up until then.

With a brace in the 3-0 win over Cosenza following his goal in the 3-1 victory over Bari, Andrea Adorante accounted for half of the tally as he continued his remarkable season.

The summer signing from Triestina was named the Serie B Player of the Week on last time out and with 12 goals this season he is firmly in the race for the Pablito, the trophy awarded to the division’s top goalscorer and named after the late Paolo Rossi.

Only Sassuolo winger Armand Lauriente, Cesena teenage sensation Francesco Pio Esposito and Catanzaro striker Pietro Iemmello have scored more than Adorante, with 13 goals each.

The Stabians have been one of the division’s surprise packages this season and the mere fact they are in contention for a play-off spot speaks volumes for the work of Guido Pagliuca. Sixth on the table level on points with Catanzaro, the Wasps are just two points adrift of fourth-placed Cremonese, an extraordinary run for a newly-promoted team.

Win against Pisa and the Stabians will establish themselves as a dark-horse for promotion.

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