Napoli will look to take advantage of Juventus' loss to AC Milan Sunday, when they visit Cagliari in the Serie A Monday.
Walter Mazzari's side are buoyant after sealing qualification to the next round of the Europa League following a 2-1 win over AIK Solna on Thursday, and the coach said he was proud of his side's achievements.
"I'm happy for the guys who have done a major match on a difficult pitch," he said after the Europa League game. "A test of character and intelligence, I'm satisfied. The boys showed personality and they deserved to win the turn.
"Tonight we were determined to achieve a result that has always been in our hands. Lately we paid some naivety but the team has always responded. We will try always to give the maximum both in Italy and Europe and then will evaluate the sums.
"Thank goodness that we play on Monday because these European matches will suck energy. I hear so many rumors around Napoli but I want to remind you that we have seven points higher than last year. This means that we're doing a high level route."
Napoli are fourth in the table, five points behind Juve, meaning a win could take them to within two of the champions. Napoli defender Paulo Cannavaro is convinced his side can sustain a challenge for the Serie A title.
"The Scudetto is not impossible, it remains an achievable target," he told Gazzetta.it. "If there is anyone who is doing better than us then that is not our fault.
"We have reached an important goal in terms of getting through to the knockout stages of the Europa League and we are going well in the championship.
"That does not mean, however, that we can expect to win every game easily. A good start set us on our way but we can still improve. We are getting more and more confident but we can always improve.
"It will be a feisty atmosphere in Cagliari. We have a great rivalry and they have been doing really well since they changed the coach."
Napoli, however, will have to do without their prolific striker Edinson Cavani, who is suspended, while Goran Pandev is injured.
Cagliari, who held Inter Milan to a 2-2 draw last weekend, will be without Davide Astori, with Nene and Mauricio Pinilla doubtful.
To watch Cagliari vs Napoli Live Stream, click here.
Expected lineups: Cagliari: Agazzi, Avelar, Astori, Pisano, Rossettini, Nainggolan, Conti, Cossu, Ekdal, Ibarbo, Sau.
Napoli: Sanctis, Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Gamberini, Maggio, Hamsik, Zuniga, Dzemaili, Inler, Insigne, Vargas.
Prediction: 3-1 to Napoli
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