Manchester City could begin 2011 as Premier League leaders in their own right should they overcome Blackpool at Eastlands.
If neighbours Manchester United fail to overcome West Brom in the early kick-off, it will open the door to City cementing top spot for longer than the five hours they were there on Tuesday.
Skipper Carlos Tevez is expected to return, although leaving out his replacement, Mario Balotelli, will not be easy given the Italian's hat-trick against Aston Villa.
Blackpool will be without midfielder Elliot Grandin for the trip to Manchester.
Grandin had to be substituted less than 20 minutes in to Tuesday's 2-0 victory at Sunderland having picked up a hamstring injury and looks set to be sidelined for the next three matches.
Seasiders captain Charlie Adam returns after missing the game at the Stadium of Light through suspension.
Manchester City team from: Hart, Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Boateng, K Toure, Kompany, Boyata, Kolarov, Lescott, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Johnson, De Jong, Vieira, Milner, Y Toure, Barry, Silva, Tevez, Adebayor, Balotelli, Jo.
Blackpool team from: Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Crainey, Evatt, Vaughan, Adam, Varney, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Phillips, Edwards, Carney, Euell, Sylvestre, Keinan, Southern, Ormerod, Halstead, Baptiste.
