ASTON VILLA v WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has to solve a defensive crisis. Richard Dunne (shoulder), James Collins and Luke Young (both calf) plus Ciaran Clark, banned for two games for incurring 10 bookings, are unavailable.
It leaves Houllier with Carlos Cuellar, Nathan Baker and on-loan Kyle Walker so Chris Herd or Fabian Delph might start in defence.
Wolves winger Michael Kightly could make his first appearance since November 2009 after persistent knee problems.
Defender Michael Mancienne is also back in contention after more than three months out with a knee injury while Adlene Guedioura could return from a broken leg. Wolves will definitely be without Stephen Hunt (calf), Dave Edwards and Ronald Zubar (both back).
Last season: Aston Villa 2 Wolverhampton 2, Wolverhampton 1 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L D D W L; Wolverhampton W L D W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 14; Adam Hammill & Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton) 8
BLACKBURN ROVERS v BLACKPOOL
Phil Jones could make a return to Blackburn's squad after playing 45 minutes for the reserves following a knee ligament injury.
Skipper Ryan Nelsen is back from a one-game ban, but defender Gael Givet begins a two-match suspension, while midfield duo David Dunn (hip) and Vince Grella (Achilles) were due to face fitness tests. Keith Andrews is also doubtful with a groin complaint.
Blackpool welcome back talisman and captain Charlie Adam from a ban but top scorer DJ Campbell is only midway through his three-game suspension.
Midfielder Eliot Grandin (hamstring) is back in contention to start, defender Craig Cathcart returns after food poisoning and striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher (hamstring) is available.
Richard Kingson (hamstring) will return in goal but fellow keepers Matt Gilks and Paul Rachubka (both knee) remain sidelined.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackburn L L D L L; Blackpool L D W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Nikola Kalinic & Mame Diouf (Blackburn) 6; DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 10
EVERTON v FULHAM
Everton captain Phil Neville and midfielder Tim Cahill have a chance of returning to face Fulham. Neville missed the last match against Birmingham with a hamstring injury while Cahill has not played since February 26 because of a foot problem.
Mikel Arteta (hamstring) is still missing while fellow midfielder Marouane Fellaini has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Forward Victor Anichebe should also be in the squad after recovering from a knock.
Fulham could be faced with a midfield dilemma as Dickson Etuhu is a doubt with a hamstring strain, while the game comes too soon for Steve Sidwell (knee), meaning manager Mark Hughes may need to find a new partner for Danny Murphy.
Bobby Zamora will continue his comeback from the bench, but Philippe Senderos has suffered another setback in his recovery from a serious Achilles injury after complaining yet again about tightness in his hamstrings.
Last season: Everton 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 2 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton W L W W D; Fulham W D D D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Tim Cahill & Louis Saha (Everton) 9; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 10
MANCHESTER UNITED v BOLTON WANDERERS
Jonny Evans and Park Ji-sung are set to return but United are still beset by injuries, with skipper Nemanja Vidic remaining on the sidelines with a calf problem where he is joined by Rio Ferdinand, Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea and Rafael amongst others.
Red Devils boss Alex Ferguson starts a five-match touchline ban.
Bolton have on-loan striker Daniel Sturridge available as he was ineligible for the FA Cup quarter-final victory at Birmingham.
Defender Gretar Steinsson should have recovered from a bug, but midfielder Mark Davies (ankle) is set to miss out. Jlloyd Samuel and Joey O'Brien have been playing for the reserves with thigh and knee problems respectively, while Zat Knight (knee) has only just resumed light training.
Sean Davis (knee) and Sam Ricketts (Achilles) are long-term absentees.
Last season: Bolton 0 Man Utd 4, Man Utd 2 Bolton 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd L W W L L; Bolton W L W D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 20;
STOKE CITY v NEWCASTLE UNITED
Stoke are likely to be without striker John Carew. The Norwegian is still suffering with the back complaint that caused him to miss last weekend's FA Cup quarter-final win over West Ham and is rated as highly doubtful.
Asmir Begovic will return in goal after making way for Thomas Sorensen in the cup.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will make a late decision on midfielder Joey Barton (thigh). Full-back Jose Enrique is rated as very doubtful and Jonas Gutierrez is also struggling, both with hamstring injuries, while Stephen Ireland (thigh) is definitely out.
Striker Nile Ranger has recovered from a knock but Ryan Taylor is banned and Dan Gosling (knee), Alan Smith (ankle) and Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg) remain on the casualty list.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke W L L D L; Newcastle D D W D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Robert Huth (Stoke) 8; Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 11
TOTTENHAM v WEST HAM UNITED
Tottenham winger Gareth Bale looks set to start his first game in two months after recovering from his back injury.
Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate (both groin), Younes Kaboul and Wilson Palacios (both knee) are all unavailable but William Gallas could start after scans revealed a hamstring problem is not serious.
Long-term absentee Tom Huddlestone (ankle) took part in training but is still two weeks away from full fitness.
West Ham will be without on-loan striker Robbie Keane as he is ineligible to face his parent club. Midfielder Gary O'Neil returns after being cup-tied for the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Stoke.
The Hammers are still without both Jack Collison (knee) and Junior Stanislas (hernia), while Frederic Piquionne and Demba Ba are doubts.
Last season: Tottenham 2 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Tottenham 2
Last five league matches: Tottenham W W W L D; West Ham W L D W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham) 12; Demba Ba (West Ham) 13
WEST BROMWICH ALBION v ARSENAL
West Brom are sweating on the fitness of midfielder Chris Brunt as he has a fever. Youssouf Mulumbu is fit to play after a muscle problem.
Graham Dorrans is definitely out with an ankle injury, while on-loan striker Carlos Vela is not eligible to face his parent club.
Veteran goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will take his place on the Arsenal bench at West Brom after agreeing a short-term deal.
Captain Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), England winger Theo Walcott (ankle) and midfielder Alex Song (knee) are all not yet fit, but striker Nicklas Bendtner should return after illness.
Centre-halves Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Johan Djourou (shoulder) are sidelined, along with goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny (hand) and Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder).
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom L D D D W; Arsenal W D W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 9; Samir Nasri & Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 14
WIGAN ATHLETIC v BIRMINGHAM CITY
West Brom side Wigan almost have a fully-fit squad to face Birmingham.
Defender Emmerson Boyce is back in contention after overcoming a hamstring problem and striker Huge Rodallega is the only slight doubt after a knock in the defeat at Manchester City a fortnight ago but the Colombian has resumed training.
January signing Conor Sammon could feature more after a six-minute debut at Eastlands.
Birmingham's injury crisis has eased after they were without eight first team players for the FA Cup quarter-final with Bolton, while Barry Ferguson and Martin Jiranek were injured and substituted during the game.
Skipper Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson, Obafemi Martins and Craig Gardner - plus Ferguson and Jiranek - are fit. Doubts still remain over whether Nikola Zigic, Lee Bowyer, David Bentley and Keith Fahey will be available.
Last season: Birmingham 1 Wigan 0, Wigan 2 Birmingham 3
Last five league matches: Wigan D W D L L; Birmingham W W L L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Conor Sammon (Wigan) 18; Nikola Zigic (Birmingham) 8
CHELSEA v MANCHESTER CITY (Sunday)
Fernando Torres, David Luiz, Michael Essien and Florent Malouda are all likely to start for Chelsea. The quartet either came off the bench or were not involved in Wednesday night's Champions League last-16 second leg against FC Copenhagen.
This match comes too soon for Alex, who is on the brink of making his long-awaited comeback from a knee injury, while Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) will also have to wait until after the international break to return.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is threatening to leave Mario Balotelli out after the Italian striker's red card against Dynamo Kiev last night with his starting place going to Edin Dzeko.
Winger Adam Johnson made a quicker than expected return from an ankle injury to feature last night but is likely to remain on the bench as the Blues concentrate on trying to secure a Champions League spot.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Man City 4, Man City 2 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W L D W W; Man City D W L D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 21
SUNDERLAND v LIVERPOOL (Sunday)
Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole (back), defender Nedum Onuoha and midfielder Bolo Zenden (both calf) will all be included after resuming full training, while Danny Welbeck (knee) could be handed a start.
But striker Fraizer Campbell (knee) will not return while Michael Turner (also knee) is also out. Craig Gordon (knee) is likely to be named a substitute, while David Meyler (knee) is closing in on full fitness.
Liverpool are likely to field their strongest front pair of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll after the former was ineligible for the Europa League tie against Braga which the latter started following his injury problems.
Defender Daniel Agger (knee) may be fit, but captain Steven Gerrard (groin), defenders Martin Kelly and Fabio Aurelio (both hamstring) and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (knee) miss out.
Last season: Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland L L L L D; Liverpool W W D L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) 10; Luis Suarez & Andrew Carroll (Liverpool) 11
