Milan, who visit third-from-bottom Parma on Saturday, trimmed Juve's advantage to four points last weekend, and the technically-gifted Brazilian insists they will not let up before Italy's two titans meet in Turin on December 18.

"Juve and Milan are two wonderful teams, but I have to say we are stronger than them," said Kaka, who is starting to rediscover the kind of form that he showed last season which brought him world-wide acclaim.

"I see my team every day and I know its potential. I hope we can reduce the gap ahead of our game against Juve."

Kaka rose to prominence by helping Milan win the title last season, his first in Italy.

But having mesmerised the Italian public with his seemingly effortless ability to glide past defenders and his ice-cool finishing, the Brazil international went off the boil at the start of this season.

The 22-year-old said he refused to alter his philosophy in order to get through a difficult period.

"I changed a few things but not a great deal to find my best form," he said.

"I like to take risks. That's what you learn as a youngster in Brazil and that's what my game is all about."

Milan are expected to welcome back fit-again striker Andriy Shevchenko for Saturday's match. The Ukranian marksman has not played since November 15, when he strained his left thigh against Bologna.

Kaka may believe that Milan are destined to retain the Scudetto, but Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic sees things in a rather different light.

"We dont lack anything at this club and we fear nobody," said the 23-year-old Sweden international ahead of Sunday's match at home to Lazio.

"Milan have Kaka and Shevchenko but we dont envy them. The league table will say for sure who is really the stronger side."

Lazio keeper Angelo Peruzzi wont be able to face his former club due to his red card in last Sundays defeat at home to Cagliari, so Matteo Sereni will deputise between the posts.

Firebrand striker Paolo Di Canio and French midfielder Ousmane Dabo are available to Lazio coach Domenico Caso having served suspensions.

The whole mid-table order in Serie A can be turned on its head in one weekend, with 12 teams on 16 to 19 points.

The southern clubs are still holding their own with Sardinian side Cagliari fourth, Sicilians Palermo and Messina fifth and sixth respectively, and Puglian club Lecce in eighth position.

Roma, whose 4-0 win at Siena last Saturday suggests they may have turned the corner and put their recent dismal run behind them, entertain Sampdoria at the Olympic stadium in Sunday's late game.

FIXTURES
(all 1400 GMT kickoff unless stated)
Saturday: Parma v AC Milan (1700), Inter Milan v Messina (1930)
Sunday: Cagliari v Chievo, Fiorentina v Bologna, Juventus v Lazio, Lecce v Livorno, Palermo v Atalanta, Reggina v Brescia, Roma v Sampdoria (1930), Udinese v Siena