AC Milan – Last season, after some troubling times before Christmas, Milan claimed 4th spot in Serie A and won the Champions League. Alexandre Pato and Emerson are strong signings for a club that seems to be brimming with confidence. A heavy schedule, which includes Serie A, Champions League, Coppa Italia, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, along with international duties, may put a strain on the club’s title ambitions, but they have the resources to go the distance. Prediction: 1st

Napoli – Finished second in Serie B last season. Napoli are an ambitious club and will be top eight material in a few years if they can survive what I think will be a tough reintroduction to Serie A. The playing roster still looks a little light and a top half finish will need a lot of hard work and luck. Prediction: 14th

Palermo – After a fantastic start that saw them at the top of the table with Inter and Roma a quarter of the way into last season, the loss of Amauri coincided with a severe change in fortunes and they could only manage 6th. The Sicilians still have a great squad and the addition of Fabrizio Miccoli will add depth to the forward line. With teams like Juve and Fiorentina recovered from their Calciopoli penalty Palermo have a lot more competition this season. Prediction: 8th

'They have the resources to go the distance despite a heavy schedule of games’

Parma – Managed 12th, three points above relegation, last season. However, the departure of Claudio Ranieri and Guiseppe Rossi may be too great a loss for the Crociati. Daniele Dessena is coming along in leaps and bounds and some decent signings this summer (including Igor Budan and Reginaldo) will go some way to helping them stay in Serie A. Prediction: 18th

Reggina – Finished 14th, but it would have been 8th had they not got caught up in Calciopoli. Have lost a lot of players and bought a lot of players. May struggle without Rolando Bianchi and while the new players settle in. I think they will be able to stave of relegation again and extended their latest run in Serie A. Prediction: 15th