Mid-table Aston Villa host top seven side Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Both teams had differing fortunes in their last outings, but victory for either here would march them on towards their ambitions.
Aston Villa
Paul Lambert is expected to start Christian Benteke after Villa’s star striker recovered from a hip problem.
Belgian frontman Benteke came on as a substitute during the 2-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Libor Kozak is expected to make way.
Ciaran Clark is also set to return to the XI following illness. Nathan Baker would drop out of defence to make room for the Republic of Ireland international.
Midfield trio Karim El Ahmadi, Ashley Westwood and Fabian Delph are expected to continue.
Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann will continue to support from wide positions, giving the Villa attack pace.
Everton
Toffees manager Roberto Martinez is likely to recall Steven Pienaar to the starting XI. The South African winger marked his return from injury by scoring the winner within seconds of coming on against Hull City last time out.
Spanish coach Martinez must decide whether to drop Leon Osman back to a deeper-lying midfield berth to accommodate Pienaar on the left or keep faith with James McCarthy.
Gareth Barry will partner either Osman or McCarthy in central midfield with Darron Gibson out long-term.
Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga is doubtful though after he suffered soft tissue damage in training. Martinez has favoured the centre back pairing of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin, however.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Everton
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