Daniele De Rossi makes his debut on the Roma bench against Verona on Saturday, but with several key players missing, is expected to completely transform Jose Mourinho’s tactics.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday at 17.00 GMT.
This is the first match since Mourinho was sensationally sacked, as the former midfielder and captain will get to walk out at the Stadio Olimpico as a coach.
He has a decimated squad to choose from, because Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini sit out bans.
Evan Ndicka, Houssem Aouar and Sardar Azmoun are on international duty, with Renato Sanches, Chris Smalling, Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla injured.
Mourinho said many times that the players in the Roma team were not suited to playing with a four-man defence, but De Rossi believes otherwise and is reportedly ready to start this experience with a so-called Christmas Tree formation, the 4-3-2-1 popularised by Carlo Ancelotti at Milan.
That should have Rick Karsdorp and Leonardo Spinazzola as the full-backs, with Diego Llorente and Dean Huijsen in the centre.
The good news for him is the return of Paulo Dybala from injury, who with Stephan El Shaarawy should support Romelu Lukaku.
Roma probable (4-3-2-1): Rui Patricio; Karsdorp, Llorente, Huijsen, Spinazzola; Pellegrini, Paredes, Bove; Dybala, El Shaarawy; Lukaku