Leonardo Bonucci is unconcerned by the fixture list which will test Juventus over the first three games of the season.

The Italian champions have been given a potentially difficult start at Sampdoria, which will be followed by a home game against Lazio and a trip to San Siro to face Inter.

“It’s better to face the big teams early because they’re teams in transition, while we’re already a well-oiled machine,” the centre-back noted.

“We’re the champions of Italy, if anything it’s the others who should be fearful of us,” the 26-year-old continued.

“When you take to the field in the black and white stripes you have the duty to give all you’ve got and chase success.

“We want to start well against Lazio in the Super Cup and then keep it going in the championship.”

Bonucci will potentially face competition for his place in the side from Angelo Ogbonna, the Italian international who was signed from Torino this summer.

“I’ll have to give 100 per cent, because it wouldn’t take much for the Coach to drop me if I had the slightest dip in form.

“A player like Angelo is good for both the entire team and the defensive unit as a whole. He’ll be able to give us a great deal over the course of the year, just like Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente.”