"I do not want to give up my place in the side," he said. "A rivalry with Buffon exists but only in the sporting sense we are still friends."
Trapattoni left Buffon the bench for the first three qualifying games but the old order was restored for the remainder of the campaign, as the extrovert with a penchant for luminous short-sleeved shirts and shaved eyebrows stepped back into the limelight.
Toldo set his considerable frame back on the bench but with a new-found determination to reclaim his starting-place.
"I know just a way to try to show Mr Trapattoni that he could count on me: giving my best on the pitch," he said.
Toldo cannot be faulted for his aptitude, as Inter press their claims for a first Scudetto victory since 1989.
But Buffon has been just as prolific with Juventus where after an error-ridden start to the campaign he has returned to his agile best in time for the title run-in.
The two big men, with big reputations and without fear when it comes to throwing themselves at the feet of oncoming attackers, would grace any side.
And whoever gets the starting shirt will ensure that the case for Italy's defence is as strong as ever.