Walter Samuel was the last this week to join a large group of players who have been turned into spectators by a spate of injuries plaguing the Italian Serie A.

It will take surgery to fix a couple of knee ligaments that the Argentine defender badly damaged in a clash at the weekend, but he will not be alone to enter the operating room this week.

Fiorentina international Riccardo Montolivo was set to have an ankle treated on Tuesday, a day before surgeons fixed the right knee of team-mate Sebastien Frey.

Montolivo should be back in midfield for the Florence side in January, but the French goalkeeper and Samuel are unlikely to recover by season's end.

As they visit promoted Lecce Wednesday, Inter will also miss goalkeeper Julio Cesar, defender Douglas Maicon and midfielder Thiago Motta.

Dejan Stankovic and Wesley Sneijder are not fully fit and Rafael Benitez could rest them in view of next weekend's derby with AC Milan.

The great form that last season allowed them to win the Italian title and cup plus the prestigious Champions League seems to have vanished for the Nerazzurri.

A new coach and participation by most players to the World Cup weigh on the team, and injuries are certainly having a role in the slump.

"Now we cannot be what we were last year, due to the injuries," Inter president Massimo Moratti said. "There is nothing certain. In this moment we must try to keep the pace of the others and be ready for a final effort at the end of the season."

Inter only drew 1-1 at home to newcomers Brescia last weekend, failing to profit from a 2-0 defeat that leaders Lazio suffered from Roma.

Lazio stayed top on 22 points from 10 games, two points above Milan, with Inter chasing on 19.

Struggling newcomers Cesena host the Rome leaders in the mid-week round, when Milan welcome Palermo.

Also badly hit by injuries are giants Juventus, trailing four points adrift as they visit Brescia with 10 men sidelined and captain Alessandro Del Piero given a rest after turning 36 on Tuesday.

Napoli flank Juve when they visit Cagliari, relying on striker Edinson Cavani, who at the weekend scored a brace in a 2-0 beating of Parma.

The Uruguayan drew level on eight goals with Inter's Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o.

Troubled giants Roma are getting back in contention after winning the city derby and have captain Francesco Totti back from suspension against Fiorentina.

Udinese have also bounced back from a bad start and travel to Catania, Chievo welcome Bari, Genoa host Bologna and Parma entertain Sampdoria on Thursday.