Sunday's single-leg tie represents Daniele De Rossi's first proper measure of where his squad stands after a preparation period mixing encouraging and less convincing friendly performances. With three days left before the season effectively begins, the head coach knows his squad, while largely complete, still needs strengthening before the transfer window shuts.
The most pressing gap is up front, where Genoa need a forward capable of easing the burden on Lorenzo Colombo. The former AC Milan striker has had his loan move made permanent, but with Nicolò Ekuban and Jeff Ekhator both having left the club, there is currently no recognised backup option behind him.
Evan Ferguson, of Brighton, has been repeatedly linked as a possible return to Serie A following his season on loan at Roma, though Genoa are not ruling out a different, later solution should the Ferguson move fail to progress.
Much of what Genoa can do elsewhere in the market depends on Norton-Cuffy's situation. The English wing-back is in high demand, particularly from Premier League clubs, with his parent club valuing him at around €20 million. A sale would provide the funds needed to complete a forward signing or any other reinforcement De Rossi still wants, giving the winger's future outsized importance to Genoa's remaining business this window.
Hull City and Everton have both been credited with interest, though neither has yet come close to matching Genoa's valuation, and De Rossi confirmed after a recent friendly that Norton-Cuffy had been deliberately rested because of the ongoing market situation surrounding him, despite being fully fit and available for selection.
With Sunday's cup tie against newly promoted Ascoli offering a first real test of where the squad stands competitively, Genoa's transfer business is likely to remain in flux for at least another week, with De Rossi's final assessment of his options shaped as much by who leaves as by who arrives before the deadline.