Shearer of course reacted to the Italian’s provocation in the first match against Inter by elbowing him in the back of the head and received a two-match ban for his trouble - but there will be no repeat in the San Siro.
"There is no situation as far as I am concerned," he told the Evening Chronicle. "Indeed, Cannavaro was prepared to speak up on my behalf and I am a big admirer of him as a defender.
"We know what we have to do as I don't believe a draw is good enough for us because I can not see Inter slipping up against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany next week.
"We keep hearing that Inter have plenty of injuries but whatever team they put out, they will have world-class players all over the pitch.
"We will give it our best shot and I suppose that knowing what we have to do could really work in our favour.
"We gave ourselves a mountain to climb in the first group stage but we climbed it. We have done it again and we are halfway up that mountain.
"We have Craig Bellamy back in Europe and this is a big plus for us because I believe we are a better side when he is in it."