Serie A official line-ups: Lazio vs. Sassuolo
Lazio begin life without Ivan Provedel and give Edoardo Motta his Serie A debut in goal, taking on Domenico Berardi’s ambitious Sassuolo, who could leap into eighth place.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
This is a surprising mid-table tussle, because no matter the result this evening, newly-promoted Sassuolo will be ahead of the Aquile in the standings.
A home victory would close the gap to just one point and put Maurizio Sarri’s side in 10th place, whereas a Neroverdi win would let them leapfrog Bologna into eighth position.
Lazio were involved in a midweek 2-2 Coppa Italia semi-final draw with Atalanta, twice fumbling the lead so that it all goes down to the second leg in Bergamo next month.
The big news over the last few days is that Provedel required surgery on a tendon in his shoulder and could well be out for the rest of the season.
It means January signing Edoardo Motta is thrown in at the deep end for his Serie A debut.
Toma Basic, Nicolò Rovella and Samuel Gigot are also out of action, so Fisayo Dele-Bashiru starts in midfield, with Daniel Maldini, Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni upfront.
They scraped only two points from the last four Serie A games, and failed to score for three in a row in this competition.
The mood has not been helped by the ongoing boycott of the home matches, as ultras have been gathering outside the Stadio Olimpico to cheer on their team from there in protest at President Claudio Lotito.
Sassuolo are on fine form recently, winning five of the last six games, interrupted only by a defeat to leaders Inter.
Sebastian Walukiewicz returns from suspension, but Andrea Pinamonti sits out a ban instead.
Alieu Fadera is recovering after surgery on a fractured cheekbone he suffered during the 2-1 victory over Atalanta, which was achieved when down to 10 men for over an hour.
Daniel Boloca, Edoardo Pieragnolo and Fali Candé are all long-term absentees.
Instead, M’Bala Nzola steps into the attack with Domenico Berardi and Armand Laurienté, with ex-Roma midfielder Nemanja Matic rested.
Lazio vs. Sassuolo line-ups
Lazio: Motta; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares; Dele-Bashiru, Cataldi, Taylor; Isaksen, Maldini, Zaccagni
Sassuolo: Muric; Coulibaly, Idzes, Muharemovic, Garcia; Koné, Lipani, Thorstvedt; Berardi, Nzola, Laurienté