Since this article was published, the game has been postponed until Sunday April 27, due to the death of a Lecce club doctor.
On track to secure another top-four finish in Serie A, Atalanta BC will aim to consolidate third place when they welcome lowly Lecce to Bergamo on Friday.
While the hosts have just posted back-to-back wins in their quest for a Champions League return, their southern counterparts are simply fighting for survival.
Match preview
© Imago
Fresh from ending a three-game streak of defeats by beating Bologna, last week's Lombardy derby against AC Milan also saw Atalanta claim maximum points, as Ederson finished off a sweeping team move to earn victory.
The Brazilian's diving header separated the sides after a tense contest at San Siro, tightening La Dea's grip on third spot in the standings and effectively ending Milan's hopes of making the top four.
For all their recent failings, Gian Piero Gasperini's side have accrued the most away points in Serie A so far, losing just one of their last 14 on the road around Italy - but they have proved less reliable on home turf.
Atalanta have won only half of their league fixtures at the Gewiss Stadium this season, sitting seventh in the home rankings, and they cannot afford many more mistakes over the final five games of another eventful campaign.
Closely pursued by Juventus, Bologna and both Rome clubs, the Nerazzurri therefore intend to put more points on the board before their top-four rivals play at the weekend.
Having seen his team's slim Scudetto hopes ended last month, Gasperini will still want to leave on a high by securing Champions League football for the fifth time in seven years - if he departs in the summer, as expected.
© Imago
Of course, Lecce come into Friday's clash needing three points for very different reasons, as they once again scrap to avoid relegation.
However, after a 4-0 home defeat in this season's reverse fixture, the Salentini have lost four of the clubs' last six meetings, conceding no fewer than 16 goals in the process.
Marco Giampaolo's men make their latest trip to Lombardy with only a one-point buffer to the Serie A drop zone, following last week's 3-0 reverse to Como, which concluded with angry fan protests.
Without a win in 10 matches, Lecce have claimed just one point - via a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Venezia - over the past eight matchdays and seem to be in terminal decline.
Placed precariously above the dotted line, the Giallorossi must face top-four hopefuls Atalanta and Lazio - plus title-chasing Napoli - in their final five matches, so they could be facing a return to Serie B after three years in the top flight.
Team News
© Imago
Amid an injury crisis in defence, Atalanta initially played wing-back Raoul Bellanova in the centre against Milan, before he later switched to his more familiar role and burst forward to set up Ederson's winner.
Odilon Kossounou is still short of full fitness after being sidelined for three months and veteran centre-back Rafael Toloi rarely starts, while Berat Djimsiti sprained his ankle on Sunday.
Stefan Posch also joins long-term absentees Sead Kolasinac and Giorgio Scalvini in the treatment room, so Gian Piero Gasperini has another selection headache to resolve.
While Charles De Ketelaere was only fit enough for a brief cameo against his former club, the Belgian forward could now start alongside Ademola Lookman, as Capocannoniere favourite Mateo Retegui has been hit by a thigh problem.
Lecce will certainly be without their top scorer Nikola Krstovic, as he joins Medon Berisha in serving a one-match ban for yellow card accumulation.
Responsible for 10 of the Giallorossi's 23 league goals this season, the Montenegrin striker leaves a huge void, with no obvious replacement: Ante Rebic, Lameck Banda and Konan N'Dri are among the contenders.
Gaby Jean has undergone surgery after suffering a season-ending knee injury, so Kialonda Gaspar should continue to partner ever-present captain Federico Baschirotto at the back.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kossounou; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Pasalic, Lookman; De Ketelaere
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Gaspar, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Pierotti, Helgason, Morente; Rebic
We say: Atalanta BC 2-0 Lecce
Though Atalanta sometimes fail to perform on home soil, Lecce are in disarray, with the Salentini's unpopular board forced to issue a vote of confidence in their head coach.
Having turned a corner by beating Bologna and Milan, La Dea can win three games on the spin, all but wrapping up Champions League qualification.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
