ROBBIE Savage has proved he is no shrinking violet and can't wait to go diving into the Italians in Wales' pivotal Euro 2004 showdown in Milan on Saturday week.

The Birmingham City midfielder knows the passionate Azzurri faithful will cram the splendid 80,000-capacity San Siro but the home crowd won't have it all their own way, Wales backed by an army of 8,500 fans - almost doubles their largest away following.

But rather than going into their shell, Savage (pictured) insists Group Nine leaders Wales will revel in the resounding atmosphere in one of the world's most magnificent sporting arenas.

"The Welsh squad is full of big-time players," pointed-out the 28-year-old Wrexham-born battler.

"We are all used to playing in big games and we'll revel in it. We'll need to get the home crowd quiet first and then we can start creating our own little attacks."

And the importance of the occasion is not lost on Savage or his Welsh teammates.

Wales lead Italy in Group Nine by two points and Mark Hughes' men are desperate not to hand any kind of advantages to their glamorous opponents.

The 30-times capped Savage added: "We need to prove to people that we can qualify for a major championships because, let's be honest, if we don't qualify it would be the same old story where we're poor, little old Wales.

"The buzz in Welsh football is unbelievable and the level support surpassed all the players' expectations, everyone expects us to qualify for Portugal next summer which is not such a bad thing. But if we don't get there now we'd have a disappointed nation on our hands."

Fulham centre-back Andy Melville, meanwhile, has all-but ruled himself out of the double-header with Italy in Milan on September 6 and Finland in the Millennium Stadium four days later.

The 34-year-old defender, capped 58 times by his country, has been suffering with a foot injury all summer and his rehabilitation took a set-back after he felt pain in the trouble foot whilst running. He said: "My chances of playing for Wales are hanging by a thread."

Mark Hughes was handed a double-boost last night ahead of Wales' crunch Euro 2004 outing to Italy a week on Saturday.

Hard-hitting frontman John Hartson made his long-awaited comeback from injury last night, replacing Henrik Larsson for the final 32 minutes of Celtic's Champions League qualifying success against MTK Hungaria .

The 28-year-old had been sidelined for five months with back and calf problems but is back just in time for top-of-the-table Wales' important Group Nine fixture with second-place Italy in Milan.

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill will now consider giving Hartson a start in Celtic's Scottish Premier League match with Livingston at Parkhead on Saturday.

In Italy, rising star Andrea Pirlo is facing a race against time to be fit for the Azzurri's San Siro showdown with Hughes' Wales.

The five-times capped Milan defensive midfielder has been suffering with various injury problems over the summer and is unlikely to play a part in the Rossoneri's Serie A opener at Ancona on Saturday. Champions League winner Pirlo, 24, is struggling to regain full fitness.