APPIANO GENTILE - The Tim Cup is back and Inter play a one-legged match for the second time this season after the Italian Super Cup last August.

In the last sixteen of Italy's domestic cup competition the Nerazzurri face Genoa, who ousted Ravenna in October. The winners will take on Roma in the quarter-final stage next week.

"We have to win," said José Mourinho in the pre-match press conference. "It would be easier to say that it's not an important match, I would have an excuse ready on the table if it went badly, but it's not like this. It's also true that I'll need to rest a few players but if you look at my call-ups there are all those who have played more in this period and I don't think it's a problem for a player to go on the pitch tomorrow and again in Bergamo on Sunday after four days of rest."

Adriano is back on Mourinho's team sheet for tomorrow night's clash but, as the Inter coach pointed out, "He has returned from Brazil after a long period without training with the squad. He won't be able to play for ninety minutes. If he starts on the bench he will come on, or vice versa if he starts the match. I prefer 40 or 60 minutes at a high intensity. Adriano won't be in top form but let's not forget that this is part of the recovery process to have the Adriano we all want."

During the course of his meeting with the Italian press, Mourinho revealed his defence to face Genoa and explained why Mario Balotelli hasn't been called up. "Toldo will be between the posts, with Maicon, Burdisso, Samuel and Maxwell in defence," he said. "As for Mario, only two days have gone by since my last team selection, so nothing has changed. His way of working has been the same. So has his joy and his attitude. The only change has been the declarations made by his brother, who said that Mario would prefer to move on loan for four months. He will be calmer after the closure of the January transfer market because he's staying with us."