Chelsea and Aston Villa will have their work cut out to match the entertainment on offer last season.
Injury headache for Scolari; O'Neill brings back rested stars
Chelsea and Aston Villa will have their work cut out to match the entertainment on offer in last season's meeting at Stamford Bridge.
When the two teams clashed in West London on Boxing Day, the match ended in a thrilling 4-4 draw which featured three red cards and two penalties.
Luiz Felipe Scolari has kept the Chelsea juggernaut rolling relentlessly along following his appointment in the summer, with the Blues defending an 85-game unbeaten home record in the Premier League.
Scolari's side top the table after six games of the new season, but Aston Villa are just one point back with the derby defeat at Stoke their only league reverse to date.
And Villa boast an impressive recent record against Chelsea, having not surrendered three points to the Blues in the last five Premier League meetings.
Chelsea worries
Former Brazil and Portugal boss Scolari has a number of injury concerns to contend with ahead of Sunday's showdown.
Captain John Terry is confident he will be fit to feature despite sustaining a back problem against CFR Cluj in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.
But doubts remain over fellow centre-back Alex after he picked up a knock in the trip to Romania, while Ricardo Carvalho is still some way from full fitness with medial ligament damage.
Striker Didier Drogba's absence after suffering a knee injury against Cluj is expected to be weeks rather than months, leaving Nicolas Anelka to lead the line against Villa.
Playmaker Deco is not expected to return until after the international break after tearing his thigh, while powerful midfielder Michael Essien (knee) is a long-term absentee.
One piece of good news for Scolari is that left-back Ashley Cole should be fit to take his place in the starting XI after missing the European clash with lower back trouble.
Villa stars rested
Counterpart Martin O'Neill was able to rest six of his first-team for their Uefa Cup first round, second leg, meeting with Litex Lovech as Villa progressed 4-2 on aggregate.
Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Martin Laursen, John Carew and Curtis Davies did not feature in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park, with progress expected after a 3-1 win away in the first leg.
Marlon Harewood was on target against Litex, but is likely to be back on the bench against Chelsea, while James Milner will be eager to have done enough to earn another starting spot.
O'Neill will hope the rest has been of benefit for his key men and they go into the clash knowing that an against-the-odds victory could see them top the table on Sunday night.
Possible starting XIs
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, A Cole, Malouda, Ballack, Mikel, Kalou, Lampard, Anelka.
Aston Villa: Friedel, L Young, Davies, Laursen, Shorey, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, A Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
