Roma coach Rudi Garcia has insisted the upcoming derby with city rivals Lazio can wait while his side focus on beating Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday to save their stuttering Champions League campaign.

After a mediocre start to Group E, Roma sit bottom with just two points from three games.

With BATE Borisov and Leverkusen just one and two points ahead of them respectively, Roma's hopes of reaching the competition's knockout stages for the first time since the 2010-11 season are not over yet.

But defeat to Leverkusen would mean Roma would have to win their final two group matches -- including away to leaders Barcelona -- to have any chance of progressing.

With the city derby next Sunday, it is a crucial week for the Giallorossi, who are third in Serie A just a point behind leaders Fiorentina and second-placed Inter Milan.

But Garcia said Tuesday: "For me, the only match that counts for us right now is tomorrow's match. No one in the group is qualified yet and no one is eliminated.

"But we need the three points if we're to maintain our qualification hopes, that's what we're facing tomorrow."

Roma began their campaign in positive fashion, holding defending champions Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the Italian capital, but struggles on their travels have complicated matters for Garcia's men.

Stunned 3-2 away to BATE, Roma dropped more points in a spectacular 4-4 draw away to Leverkusen last month.

Having gone 2-0 down at the BayArena, Roma hit four successive goals, including a brace from midfielder Daniele De Rossi, only to concede twice in the final six minutes.

Garcia's men boast the best attack in Serie A, with 25 goals scored in 11 games.

But with 13 conceded, the most of any team in the top five, their defensive game could be tighter.

Roma's 1-0 defeat to Inter last weekend was the first time they had failed to score in 25 fixtures in all competitions, while misfiring Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko has scored only once in 11 outings.

Garcia, however, said he was "encouraged" by Roma's defensive performance at the San Siro. With ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Javier Hernandez hitting great form for Leverkusen, with six goals in his last four games including a brace in their last meeting, it has come in timely fashion.

Garcia said defensive midfielder De Rossi will line up on Wednesday after sitting out the Inter game, while goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny said they hope to put the brakes on Mexican striker Hernandez.

"He's a great striker and we knew that. He played for massive clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid before joining Leverkusen," said Szczesny.

"He scored twice in the match in Germany and tomorrow we'll make sure that doesn't happen again."