Europe-chasing Everton take on Derby at Goodison Park on Sunday hoping to get back to winning ways.
Toffees need no more slip-ups in bid for European football next term
Fifth-placed Everton take on relegated Derby at Goodison Park on Sunday hoping for a win to cement their chances of European football next term.
The Toffees are now five points off rivals Liverpool and a UEFA Champions League spot following last Sunday's Merseyside derby defeat.
So it seems the best they can now achieve is to qualify for the Uefa Cup via fifth place in the league to make sure they get something from a season which promised so much just a month ago.
This was before their recent dip in form in the league and being dumped out of this season's Uefa Cup by Fiorentina on penalties.
But the Toffees will need no more slip-ups after two defeats and a draw as sixth-placed Portsmouth are closing and are now just four points behind.
Derby, meanwhile, will be looking to build on last Saturday's commendable 2-2 draw with Fulham to give their fans something to shout about.
They have endured a miserable time, with just one win in 32 league games this term, making them the first team to be relegated from the Premier League before April.
But they still have something to play for as they need five points from their last six games to beat Sunderland's worst ever points total of 15.
Team news
In team news, Everton boss David Moyes is without the influential injured Tim Cahill, while James Vaughan, Iain Turner and Andy van der Meyde are also all injured.
But he has no suspensions for the game.
For Derby, former Blues defender Alan Stubbs will not be making a return to Goodison Park after failing to recover from the calf injury he picked up against Chelsea three weeks ago.
But boss Paul Jewell is boosted by the return to fitness of Jay McEveley and Kenny Miller.
However Giles Barnes, Tyrone Mears, Claude Davis and Danny Mills are all missing with long-term injuries.
