Kaká or no Kaká, Milan gun for Inter

AC Milan will look to upset the odds in what could be captain Paolo Maldini's last game against FC Internazionale Milano on Sunday, with coach Carlo Ancelotti adamant his side "can do well with or without Kaká".

Easy motivation
Lose on Sunday and Milan can effectively kiss their dreams of a title goodbye, as they would be cast eleven points adrift of their city rivals. However, winning will be no easy task. Kaká is a doubt through injury while José Mourinho's Inter are at full strength. Not that left-back Marek Jankulovski is abandoning hope. "In matches like this, motivation comes easily," he said. "We will go out to win, as always."

Optimistic coach
The Rossoneri won the first Serie A derby of the season, Ronaldinho heading in the only goal, and with his side a point behind second-placed Juventus, Ancelotti is feeling optimistic. "We are in good form, better than last September when we beat them," said the 49-year-old. "We can do well with or without Kaká, but we have to win."

Home record
Aside from that defeat against Milan, Inter have lost just once in the league all season, going down 3-1 at Atalanta BC in mid-January, while Mourinho has not lost a home game as a coach since 23 February 2002, when his FC Porto side were beaten 3-2 by SC Beira-Mar. This would be an inopportune moment for that record to slip, and Inter captain Javier Zanetti, playing in his 35th derby, is not taking the occasion lightly. "It is a crucial match; one that means a lot to all concerned," he said.

Maldini moment
None more so, perhaps, than Paolo Maldini. Now 40, the Milan captain is expected to retire this summer, making this derby – his 55th in 25 seasons with the Rossoneri – probably his last. Jankulovski has his doubts, however. "He is a great champion, a great player, but I don't know if it will be his last derby," he said. "If you see how he's playing now, he could easily carry on, but if it is going to be his last derby it would be nice to win."

Danger man
For Jankulovski, the key to victory will be stopping Inter's star striker Zlatan Ibrahimović. "Inter are a very strong team, but we have to be especially careful about Ibrahimović," said the 31-year-old. "He can decide matches on his own. They have other very good players, but if there's one player we need to worry about, it's Ibrahimović."