Italy will go up against the early season sensation in Serie A, Juventus winger Milos Krasic, when it hosts Serbia in a European Championship qualifier Tuesday.
Krasic hit a hat trick for Juventus in a 4-2 win over Cagliari two weeks ago and is being hailed in Turin as the new Pavel Nedved because of his attacking style and his blonde hair.
"We're all already aware of Krasic's skills. He's very quick so he's a real danger and we'll definitely have to double up on him," said Italy left back Domenico Criscito, who will be called on the most to contain Krasic.
"Finding a comfort zone in our league right from the start isn't easy, not everyone can do it, and that just shows his worth," added Criscito, who will at least have extra encouragement from the fans since the match will be played in the same stadium used by his club, Genoa.
Italy's two center backs, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, shouldn't be surprised by Krasic either - since they play with the Serb at Juventus. And everybody on Italy's squad is familiar with Serbia captain Dejan Stankovic, who has been playing in Serie A with Lazio and Inter Milan since 1998.
However, neither Krasic nor Stankovic were enough for Serbia to avoid a surprising 3-1 loss at home to Estonia on Friday.
The loss to Estonia marked the debut of new Serbia coach Vladimir Petrovic. He was called in when Radomir Antic was fired following a 1-1 draw at home with Slovenia last month, which only added to a crisis that began with a disappointing first-round exit from the World Cup.
"Now we've got to face a squad that is hurt and I would have preferred not to," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "That makes this game more complicated."
Unbeaten Italy leads Group C with seven points, Estonia is next with six and Northern Ireland, Serbia and Slovenia have four each.
Italy wasted numerous chances in a 0-0 draw in Northern Ireland on Friday.
"We've got to be more decisive in front of the goal," Prandelli said.
Sampdoria strikers Cassano and Pazzini will also be playing in front of their their home fans at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, where an all-new pitch has been laid following a series of complaints about the grass from Sampdoria and Genoa.
"It's always an advantage for me to play with Antonio," Pazzini said. "When he controls the ball I already know where he's going to place it next and in that same instant he knows perfectly where I'll be waiting for it."
In the lineup Prandelli announced on Monday, Stefano Mauri will join Pazzini and Cassano in a 4-3-3 formation, while Marco Borriello and Simone Pepe have been relegated to the bench.
Claudio Marchisio and Angelo Palombo will play alongside Andrea Pirlo in midfield - with Daniele de Rossi sent home earlier in the day due to a muscle injury - and veteran Gianluca Zambrotta will take over for Mattia Cassani at right back, earning his 98th cap.
With goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon still recovering from back surgery, Bologna's Emiliano Viviano will be seeking his third consecutive clean sheet between the posts.
Serbia will miss Manchester United center back Nemanja Vidic because of a pair of yellow cards.
"There's no time for crying, against Italy it cannot be worse than against Estonia," said forward Milan Jovanovic.
The Italian federation has asked UEFA to hold a minute of silence before the match and for the players to wear black armbands after four Italian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan on Saturday.
