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The Italian club host Liverpool at the Stadio San Paolo hoping
to take a big step towards qualification from Group K.
Their form this season has been encouraging - they are currently
fourth in Serie A - and considerably better than Liverpool's, who
have slipped to second-bottom of the Barclays Premier League.
Liverpool's form in Europe has been much better, with five wins
and a draw through both qualifying and the group stage so far.
Napoli, like their opponents, are trying to recapture former
glories and Mazzarri believes facing teams like Liverpool can only
help in that quest.
They drew their opening two games against Utrecht and Steaua
Bucharest but Liverpool pose the biggest threat.
"Playing an important side like Liverpool is another step for
the club to grow,'' he said.
"We have to hold up Napoli's name though, but without forgetting
about the league, which is our primary objective.
"But having said that, we will give our maximum because we
really want to get through the group.''
Despite Liverpool's troubles this season, and the fact they have
left key duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard at home, Mazzarri
is taking nothing for granted.
"They have a great squad. An individual is not able to dictate
the team's strengths,'' he added.
"I'm more worried because it's clear (Roy Hodgson's) studied a
line-up that could give us more problems.
"I want a great match. I would like the team to play good
football and produce a positive performance.
"I don't want only to secure a good result. I want to achieve it
in the best possible fashion.
"We want to give happiness to our supporters and we will play
with soul, regardless of the possible outcome.''
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has defended his squad selection
ahead of the game.
He has chosen to rest Torres, Gerrard, Raul Meireles and Lucas
Leiva, while he is also without Glen Johnson (hamstring), Daniel
Agger (illness) and Dirk Kuyt (ankle).
The 63-year-old admitted his decision was coloured by the fact
the team were in desperate need of a win against Blackburn in the
Premier League on Sunday.
"I was concerned that if players like Lucas Leiva and Raul
Meireles were to play it would be five matches in two weeks,'' said
Hodgson, who admitted it was a risk.
"And when it comes to Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres - two
important players - we have an important league game on Sunday.
"For me it was, quite simply, a priority. After our very poor
start to the season and bad results, if we had to make a sacrifice
within the team in one game or another, in which game do you make
it?
"I made the decision to make the sacrifice in this game because
we need a win more badly on Sunday than we do tomorrow
(Thursday).
"I wouldn't want to be in a situation where I played Gerrard and
Torres and one of them got injured or were tired and our
performance suffered.
"If we then lose and people say we chose a weakened team because
I prioritised Sunday over this game then I will hold my hands up
and say they are right.''
