Last season's semi-finalists, who currently lie third in a tight group B, travel to the Ukraine knowing only a win will guarantee their passage through to the knockout phase.
A draw would still be enough if Lokomotiv Moscow were to beat Arsenal in London in the other Group B game but it is not a scenario Cannavaro wants to rely on.
"We're not going there to hang around waiting to counter-attack," he was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday.
"We've got to play aggressively, exactly as we've been doing in our last few matches."
Inter coach Alberto Zaccheroni is expected to field his preferred, attacking formation, spearheaded by strikers Christian Vieri, Julio Cruz and Obafemi Martins.
With the glaring exception of the 5-1 defeat by Arsenal two weeks ago, it is a tactic that has served the Italian
Sunday's 2-1 Serie A victory over Perugia was Inter's fifth win in six league matches since the 50-year-old coach took over from Hector Cuper in October.
Cannavaro, who is set to return from an injury he picked up during the defeat against Arsenal, said he had been impressed by the team's performances during his absence, including the 3-1 win over Italian champions Juventus.
"I've seen attractive, winning football. I've also been very pleased with the team spirit," he said.
In last season's Champions League Inter faced a similar must-win match in the second group phase, when they played Bayer Leverkusen away.
But with Kiev still able to qualify themselves with a win, Cannavaro says it is a different situation.
"Back then we were playing a team that was going through a crisis and had no hope of qualifying," he said.
"Now the danger of going out is far greater, though that gives an edge to the game."