Dejan Stankovic has claimed that Inter Milan will lack no motivation to beat Serie A pacesetters AC Milan in the upcoming derby and re-take the pole position of the Italian league.

Milan head into the game at the San Siro leading the table for the first time in two years after Wednesday's 3-1 triumph over Palermo. That result lifted the Rossoneri one point clear of Lazio and they are three ahead of their cross-town rivals Inter.

"Milan will be in buoyant mood because they are at the top of the standings, but we will be very motivated to do well," said Inter midfielder Stankovic.

"I'm not worried because even though we have lost a few points in recent weeks, Milan are just three points clear of us. I'm sure we will turn things around on Sunday. Motivation will not be lacking because the derby is always a beautiful and important game," he said.

Draws against Brescia and Lecce have seen Inter slip to fourth place. Both sides head into the match with injury problems. Milan are likely to be without top scorer Alexandre Pato and veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi for the game.

Inter suffered a huge blow this week when a knee injury ended Argentina defender Walter Samuel's season, but the Nerazzurri are hoping to have Holland midfielder Wesley Sneijder available. Sneijder revealed he had a case of anaemia and did not play against Lecce.