Maldini - hoping to shake off injury. (Allsport)

By From Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Ibaraki

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Influential Italy skipper Paolo Maldini is confident he will be fit to face Croatia on Saturday despite limping out of training with a twisted ankle.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni and official team doctor Andrea Ferretti, however, are more cautious of Maldini's chances of playing in the Group G clash at the Kashima Stadium.

Maldini, Italy's most-capped player with 123 and rated by many as the world's best left-back, innocuously fell with just 10 minutes remaining of the hour-long practice session in Ibaraki.

The 33-year-old received treatment to his left ankle on the sidelines before gingerly hobbling back to the dressing room while his team-mates continued to train.

Maldini, who would equal Germany star Lothar Matthaus' record of 25 World Cup appearances if he played in every game in this tournament up to and including the final or third-place play-off, remained upbeat.

"It's not too bad, but we will have to see tomorrow whether there is any swelling. I hope I will play and I believe I will play," said Maldini.

Experienced coach Trapattoni has a number of options to consider if Maldini is ruled out, although the likely choice is to switch from a four-man defence to three at the back.

"It's not too serious, so I am optimistic, he is optimistic and the doctor is quite optimistic," enthused Trapattoni.

"I've not thought too much about the solutions if we are without Maldini, but I have to be serious and conscious of not making changes too early."

Ferretti, who feels Maldini has "slightly more than a 50% chance" of starting, added: "There's no swelling as yet, but there is pain. We will take another look on Saturday and make a decision then."

Fellow defender Fabio Cannavaro has conceded the rest of the squad "are worried" as to whether Maldini plays due to the influence he yields over the team.

Victory for Italy would see them with one foot in the knock-out stages, with their place confirmed in the last 16 if Mexico defeat Ecuador in Miyagi on Sunday.

Even without Maldini, Trapattoni admits to feeling "confident" of success and added: "The rest of the team are fine and are physically and mentally ready to play a good game."

One confirmed change sees Filippo Inzaghi back up front alongside Christian Vieri, with Francesco Totti playing behind the front two.

Cristiano Doni makes way for AC Milan striker Inzaghi, who is fit again after missing the opening 2-0 win over Ecuador with a sore knee.

Croatia, meanwhile, are also forced into at least one change as defender Boris Zivkovic is banned following his sending-off against Mexico, with either Dario Simic or Daniel Saric his replacement.

The major surprise is that coach Mirko Jozic looks poised to drop two of his most experienced players in former Arsenal and West Ham striker Davor Suker, now playing at Munich 1860, and Portsmouth's Robert Prosinecki.

Jozic said: "I need to raise the team psychologically. We lost a battle against Mexico, so now it is all or nothing against Italy."

If Suker is left out that could open the way for Bosko Balaban, the striker who barely made an appearance following his £6million move to Aston Villa from Dinamo Zagreb last season.