Man City will hope to strengthen their stake for a European spot when they entertain rock-bottom West Ham.
City pushing for top-four finish; Hammers desperate for points
Manchester City will hope to strengthen their stake for a European spot when they entertain rock-bottom West Ham on Sunday.
Roberto Mancini's men maintained their push for a place in next season's UEFA Champions League when they triumphed 1-0 at Blackburn on Monday.
That victory left City fourth in the Premier League table with four games remaining and a crucial four points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, whose own European bid is on the wane.
Success against the Hammers would lift Mancini's side within two points of third-placed Arsenal, and give their top-four finish hopes a boost as they gear up for next month's FA Cup final against Stoke.
At the other end of the table, West Ham are in desperate need of points as they bid to escape bottom place and keep their survival hopes alive.
Victory at City could see the Hammers, currently one point adrift of 19th-placed Wolves, break out of the relegation zone.
However, the East Londoners' form is not on their side, having suffered four successive league defeats to leave them without a win in five games.
A 3-0 loss at the hands of Chelsea last time out will not have done West Ham's confidence any favours, and Avram Grant's men will be keen to rectify that result when they visit Eastlands.
City emerged 3-1 victors in the return fixture at Upton Park back in December, and a similar outcome on Sunday would leave the Hammers' hopes of securing a seventh successive season in the top-flight hanging by a thread.
Team news
Mancini could be tempted to recall Edin Dzeko to the team after the Bosnia and Herzegovina striker, a £27million signing from Wolfsburg, scored his first Premier League goal for the club against Blackburn after stepping off the bench.
The manager will again be without star hitman Carlos Tevez as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Micah Richards, who is also out with a hamstring problem and Jerome Boateng (knee) remain unavailable.
West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is still struggling with an Achilles injury and is almost certain to miss out.
He is joined on the sidelines by fellow midfielders Mark Noble and Gary O'Neil, who are out with hernia and ankle injuries respectively.
Wayne Bridge is ineligible to feature against his parent club, but the Hammers' defence will be boosted by the return of Matthew Upson from a chest infection.
Possible starting XIs:
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry, A Johnson, Yaya Toure, Silva, Balotelli.
West Ham: Green, Jacobsen, Da Costa, Upson, Bridge, Spector, Boa Morte, Hitzlsperger, Piquionne, Cole, Ba.
