Serie A champions AC Milan and crosstown rivals Inter Milan clash in Beijing on Saturday for the Italian Super Cup in the first official game of the season.
Chinese fans gave both sides a warm welcome this week and look forward to filling the Bird's nest stadium, which hosted the game in 2009 as well when Lazio beat Inter 2-1.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri still upbeat after winning the scudetto on his first season with the Rossoneri, ending a five-title run by Inter, who won the Italian Cup.
'I have no worries,' he said. 'We are at the start of the season. This is our third game (after two friendlies) and our form cannot be the best.
'But the game is very important, both for the trophy and because it is a derby. We have worked well in the past two weeks, but it will be important to have the right concentration.
'It will be very hot, with much humidity, therefore, beside the legs, we will also need our head.'
Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic appears to be already in good form and is again set to be Allegri's mainstay up front, wile Brazilians Pato and Robinho are gradually recovering from Copa America duties in July.
Also back from the tournament won by Uruguay is Inter veteran captain Javier Zanetti, who will have to fill in for the injured Japanese midfielder Yuto Nagatomo.
New coach Gian Piero Gasperini had originally planned a slow-paced summer camp for the Argentine, but is now forced to rely on his experience.
Zanetti, who turns 38 next week, has played more than 750 games with Inter since his arrival in 1995.
'Obviously, faced by necessity, you change the programs and we did it without problems,' Zanetti said.
Giampaolo Pazzini and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o are geared for their second season together, but the game could be the last with the Nerazzurri for Dutch midfield mainstay Wesley Sneijder, who seems set to leave for Manchester United.
'I have no crystal ball, but we are here to try to win,' Gasperini said. 'Inter want to take home (from Beijing) that cup they failed to win two years ago. Then, playing with Milan is an added reason of prestige.'
Inter and Milan are level as top winners, each having lifted the Super Cup five times.
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