European champions Italy visit Switzerland on Sunday, as they continue their quest to reach Qatar 2022, following a disappointing midweek draw with Bulgaria.

Ahead of what could be a decisive game in World Cup Qualifying Group C - as an Azzurri win would put them well clear of their Alpine rivals - head coach Roberto Mancini may make one or two changes from the XI that lined up in Florence on Thursday night.

The back four could be returned to a more familiar personnel, with Francesco Acerbi possibly dropping out to be replaced by wily veteran Giorgio Chiellini, whose experience could be invaluable at St. Jakob-Park, while Alessandro Florenzi's spot at right-back is also under threat.

Blamed by some pundits for his part in Bulgaria's goal in the 1-1 draw, the Milan man has competition from Atalanta's Rafael Toloi, his club captain Davide Calabria and Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo - a regular starter during the Euros triumph just weeks ago.

The latter is expected to get the nod this time around, with Mancini potentially changing things up again in a well-stocked department when the Azzurri meet Lithuania next week. On the left, he has fewer options in Leonardo Spinazzola's absence, so Emerson Palmieri should start again.

Though the much-lauded midfield trio is likely to remain unchanged, Manuel Locatelli - who scored twice against the Swiss in the summer - and returning Roma starlet Nicolo Zaniolo could feature at some stage.

Meanwhile, in La Nazionale's customary three-man attack, Ciro Immobile should again be preferred to Sassuolo's Giacomo Raspadori and recent Juventus returnee Moise Kean, with Andrea Belotti previously withdrawing from the squad due to injury.

Though Immobile - three times Serie A's Capocannoniere - has only registered 15 goals in over half a century of Azzurri appearances to date, his direct running could pose significant problems to Switzerland's three-man defence, so Mancini is set to persist with his tried and trusted centre-forward on Sunday night.

Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Chiellini, Bonucci, Emerson; Locatelli, Jorginho, Barella; Insigne, Immobile, Berardi