The first weekend of the New Year features the biggest game of the season so far in Serie A, as leaders Juventus entertain second-placed Roma in Turin on Sunday.

Juve come into 2014 five points clear of Roma at the summit, and so a win will see them take a big step towards retaining their title.

Antonio Conte's side are in fine form, having won their last nine league games on the bounce since suffering their sole league defeat this season, a 4-2 reverse at Fiorentina in October.

Meanwhile, Roma could still match Juve's 2011-12 achievement of going the entire campaign undefeated.

Under French coach Rudi Garcia, Roma have yet to lose in 17 matches, although since winning their opening 10 games they have managed just two wins and five draws.

That run has allowed Juve to pull clear and they are defending an unbeaten home record in Serie A stretching back almost exactly a year and a 2-1 defeat to Sampdoria on January 6, 2013.

Despite that, Roma veteran Francesco Totti insists the Giallorossi have no reason to fear their opponents at the Juventus Stadium.

"We are not interested in the draw, we want to win," said the Roma captain in an interview with Il Messaggero.

"On an individual basis, one against one, we are better than Juve, but they are better as a team.

"The Rome derby is a unique encounter, but games against Juventus are like a second derby for me. It was like that when I was a fan, seeing as there has always been a footballing hatred between the two."

Totti's comments have not gone down well in Turin, with Juve's Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini hopeful of putting an end to the visitors' unbeaten record.

"Everyone has their own opinion. But we have demonstrated on the pitch in the last two and a half years that we are stronger and we want to show that again on Sunday," he said.

"Roma are enjoying a great season. They deserve credit for an amazing start, but it is not easy to maintain such consistency throughout a whole season."

The match will feature a fascinating battle in midfield, where Arturo Vidal has been Juve's inspiration and Dutchman Kevin Strootman has been outstanding for Roma since signing from PSV Eindhoven.

The hosts should also welcome Andrea Pirlo back into the side, while Andrea Barzagli is hoping to be fit and Carlos Tevez is expected to start despite returning late from a Christmas trip to his native Argentina.

Earlier on Sunday, fourth-placed Fiorentina entertain Tuscan neighbours Livorno, but most matches this weekend will be played on Monday's Epiphany holiday.

Napoli, in third, are set to welcome back Marek Hamsik for their home meeting with a Sampdoria side unbeaten in five matches since former player Sinisa Mihajlovic became coach in November.

That run has left them just a point behind AC Milan, who have won only once in nine games ahead of their home meeting with Atalanta, a match that will come too soon for new signing, Japan playmaker Keisuke Honda.

Meanwhile, chaos reigns at Lazio, where two coaches are claiming the right to sit on the bench for Monday's home clash with Inter.

The capital club have insisted that Vladimir Petkovic was in breach of contract when he agreed to take over as coach of Switzerland from July, and are trying to sack him and avoid paying the 600,000 euros ($818,000) in compensation being claimed by the coach.

He insists he is still in charge of Lazio but former boss Edy Reja has been leading training sessions this week and the club plan to present him as their new coach at a press conference on Sunday.

Fixtures (kick-offs 1400 GMT unless stated)