David Beckham and Luca Toni will both mark their return to Serie A when the Italian league resumes with a full slate of games Wednesday.
Beckham has rejoined AC Milan on loan for the second season and the former England captain could start immediately against Genoa, with fellow midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf bothered my minor muscle problems.
Likewise, AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri intends to make immediate use of Luca Toni after acquiring the six-foot-four striker from Bayern Munich on loan. Toni scored 91 goals in 177 Serie A games before transferring to Germany two and a half years ago.
Toni is looking to regain his spot in Italy's World Cup side with a solid second half of the season.
"I'm extremely motivated and very happy to be here," he said. "Roma is the right place to get myself back in form and aim for the World Cup."
Roma, which has climbed back into the Champions League places after a poor start to the season, visits Cagliari.
The winter break also included Goran Pandev's transfer to Serie A leader Inter Milan after a bitter contract dispute with Lazio. With Samuel Eto'o on leave for the African Cup of Nations, Pandev could pair with Diego Milito in Inter's attack.
Inter, which holds an eight-point lead over AC Milan, opens 2010 with a lunchtime match against Chievo Verona.
Pandev started his career in Inter's youth system and is happy to be back.
"I have grown and become a real player and man, thanks also to Lazio," the Macedonia international said. "I'm hoping to start over with Inter, score and win a lot."
Juventus, which ended 2009 on a two-game losing streak but is still third, will start the new year against a freshly promoted Parma squad that is tied for fourth with Roma.
Juventus is without five starters. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and forward Vincenzo Iaquinta are both recovering from knee surgery, defender Fabio Cannavaro is suspended, Mauro Camoranesi is out for a month with a thigh injury and fellow midfielder Mohamed Sissoko is playing for Mali at the African Cup of Nations.
Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara appears set to try a new lineup with Diego alongside David Trezeguet on the forward line.
Forward Adrian Mutu has returned from an injury layoff and Fiorentina also intends to use newly acquired defender Felipe in a Tuscan derby with Siena.
Lazio, which is tied for the league low with 10 goals scored, hosts Livorno with newly acquired forward Sergio Floccari expected to fix the Roman squad's scoring problems.
Palermo brings a three-game winning streak to Genoa for its game with Sampdoria, which gained 20 points in its opening nine games but just five in the following eight encounters.
Also Wednesday, Napoli welcomes back Ezequiel Lavezzi from injury for its match at Atalanta; new Udinese coach Gianni De Biasi makes his debut against a Bari side that features one of the league's top defences; and Catania, which ended 2009 with a victory over Juventus, hosts Bologna.