How AC Milan could line up against Inter Milan

The Milan coach is set to be without Rafael Leao following the forward's early withdrawal against Lazio last weekend, so his replacement in that game, Alexis Saelemaekers, could be asked to fill in on the Rossoneri's left wing; combining with French full-back Theo Hernandez.

Though that would require the Belgian to play a relatively unfamiliar inverted role, it is thought that recent form will place him ahead of Ante Rebic in his manager's thinking.

After making wholesale changes against Cremonese last week - without much success - Pioli reverted to a stronger XI against his former club on Saturday, and key players such as lone striker Olivier Giroud and midfield fulcrum Sandro Tonali will feature again.

Ismael Bennacer should continue in his advanced midfield position, so Milan may make only one more change, with Brahim Diaz coming in for Junior Messias on the right of a three-man supporting cast for Giroud.

The vast experience of Simon Kjaer will likely win him the nod over more dynamic defensive options such as Pierre Kalulu and recent revelation Malick Thiaw, and the Danish centre-back is set to partner Fikayo Tomori at the heart of Milan's back four.

Leao aside, only Tommaso Pobega and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are set to miss out due to injury - the latter is not registered for the Champions League knockout stages anyway.

AC Milan possible starting lineup: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kjaer, Hernandez; Tonali, Krunic; Diaz, Bennacer, Saelemaekers; Giroud