With seven games remaining, Venezia need victories and not draws if they are to avoid immediate relegation to Serie B.

Eusebio Di Francesco's men played out a 1-1 stalemate with Lecce last weekend, preventing consecutive top-flight losses following a 1-0 home loss against Bologna to close out March.

However, the tie in Apulia was the Winged Lions' fifth in their previous six league matches after a three-match losing sequence in February.

Although Di Francesco's team have kept games tight during the recent six-match run, the team's failure to score consistently has seen the Venice-based club fire blanks in four of those contests, leaving them winless in Serie A since defeating Cagliari 2-1 in December.

Fourteen matches have passed since that success, but the Lagunari, five points behind 17th-placed Lecce, need a late-season upswing to avoid eventual relegation from the big time.

That fate is expected to befall Monza, who have 15 points from 31 games, leaving the Biancorossi bottom of the Italian top flight and 11 points from safety.

Alessandro Nesta's return on February 10 has not inspired a turnaround in fortunes, as evidenced by the Brianzoli suffering five defeats from seven (two draws) since the former Italy centre-back's reinstatement.

Monza last tasted victory under Salvatore Bocchetti in January — a 2-1 success over Fiorentina — but have since suffered nine defeats in 11 matches, keeping one clean sheet in a goalless encounter with Lecce, whom they trail by 11 points.

Further magnifying the bottom club's struggles is their winless away streak, which stands at 11 games, including nine losses.

Eight of those defeats have been in consecutive matches on the road, and the Biancorossi aim to prevent a ninth straight disappointment on their travels this weekend.

Facing an opponent with one home victory all season, the travelling contingent will hope for a different outcome as they visit Venice.

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Radu; Marcandalli, Idzes, Cande; Zerbin, Perez, Caviglia, Busio, Haps; Oristanio, Fila

Monza possible starting lineup:

Turati; Pereira, Izzo, D'Ambrosio; Birindelli, Ciurria, Blanco, Akpro, Caldirola; Mota, Balde