Mancini refuses to rule out 'strong' Juve

Inter host the four-time consecutive champions in the 'Derby d'Italia' looking to maintain their promising start by winning one of the biggest fixtures in Italian football.

While Mancini's men have lost just one of their seven outings, conceding a shock 4-1 defeat at home to Fiorentina, Juventus -- with two wins, three losses and two draws -- sit eight points adrift of Inter.

An Inter win on Sunday would see Juventus slip 11 points behind, but Mancini said the depth in quality of Massimiliano Allegri's side means that, on their day, the champions cannot be underestimated. 

"Juventus are a really strong side," Mancini told media on Saturday. 

"They have young strikers like (Paulo) Dybala and (Alvaro) Morata, (Juan) Cuadrado has injected the pace they needed, (Paul) Pogba needs no introduction and (Sami) Khedira is on his way back.

"We have to have the right levels of concentration and commitment tomorrow, because when you come up against Juventus you can't afford to make mistakes."

Inter host the champions looking to win the San Siro leg of the 'Derby d'Italia' for the first time since 2010, when Jose Mourinho led them to an unprecedented league, Cup and Champions League treble.

Mancini still has doubts over the availability of on-loan Manchester City forward Stevan Jovetic, but despite several players returning from international duty the Italian coach's only concern is Chilean Gary Medel, who recently has been deployed in defence.

Otherwise, Inter are at full strength for a game that, if they win and Fiorentina lose to Napoli, will see them go back on top of the league.

Even so, Mancini believes the "balanced" nature of this season's championship will see his side on the receiving end of some upsets along the way.

"A win would reinforce our belief of what we can achieve this season," said Mancini.

"It would also allow us to put some distance between ourselves and a direct rival, but Juve are a side that can turn things around very swiftly.

"Plus, Serie A is very balanced, especially right now when so many teams are in top condition. We will lose again."

Juventus claimed only their second win of the campaign, a 3-1 defeat of Bologna, prior to the international break.

And with a crucial Champions League clash at home to Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday, Allegri warned it is important to find some consistency -- starting with Sunday's sell-out at the San Siro.

"It's not an all-or-nothing game, but we can't afford to go to Milan and not be on our game," he said.

"We need to be realistic. We have to aim to get to March and still be contention for the scudetto but tomorrow’s game is not going to decide who wins the title.

"It’s a fantastic one to be involved in -- it’s the Derby d’Italia. We’ll be playing in front of 80,000 people plus everyone else watching on TV around the world." 

Allegri is expected to have a full strength squad with reports suggesting recent injury worries Claudio Marchisio, Mario Mandzukic and Morata are all in contention for a starting berth.