Antonio Conte believes playing twice a week will be "the moment of truth" for Napoli, who visit Fiorentina in Serie A on Saturday before travelling to Manchester City in the Champions League next week.
After a comfortable 2-0 win against Sassuolo in their opening game of the season, Napoli required a last-gasp goal from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa to secure a 1-0 victory over Cagliari prior to the international break.
They then strengthened their attacking options on transfer deadline day, signing out-of-favour Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund on a season-long loan.
Napoli enter Saturday’s game unbeaten in 14 league matches since February, and the Partenopei’s record against Fiorentina makes for pleasant viewing, having avoided defeat in their last seven league visits to the Stadio Artemio Franchi, losing just once in their last 15 trips.
Fiorentina, who have won only two of their last 10 Serie A encounters with Napoli, are yet to register a league win this season, beginning with two draws.
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Discussing his side's schedule following the international break, Conte said: "It's the moment of truth. Yes, we will start playing every three days and it will certainly be a complex season for us.
"In the first two games, we relied on certainties. Now every three days there will be new players to be inserted and clearly we will need a little patience and understanding if there are mistakes.
"We will have to be patient and insert them. The new ones also arrive with great expectations, wearing the shirt with the Scudetto badge. We must be tolerant in judgments if things do not go well."
Napoli will visit the Etihad Stadium for their Champions League curtain-raiser on Thursday. Fiorentina, meanwhile, must wait until October to start their Conference League campaign.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Fiorentina – Moise Kean
Kean has logged more Serie A minutes without scoring against Napoli than any other side (302), yet since the beginning of last season, he has netted more goals at home than any other player in the league (13).
Napoli – Matteo Politano
Politano has scored four Serie A goals against Fiorentina, only scoring more against AC Milan (six) and Genoa (five).
After already registering one assist this season, he only needs a goal to make it 11 straight Serie A campaigns with at least one goal and one assist.
The only other players to have managed this across each of the last 10 seasons are Piotr Zielinski and Paulo Dybala.