Manchester United host Chelsea on Sunday in a game that can be seen live on Sky Sports 1.
Watch the game live on Sky Sports 1 this Sunday
Manchester United host Chelsea on Sunday aware that a maximum haul would put them within a point of Luiz Felipe Scolari's side with two games in hand.
An expectant Old Trafford will demand a marked improvement from the dire display which saw them lose a Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Derby in midweek, but with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov all to come in it shouldn't be a problem.
After a week of domestic cup action both clubs will welcome a return to their bread and butter of league fare, with Chelsea eager to put a line under recent indifferent form that has seen them drop points against Fulham, Everton and West Ham in three of their last four Premier League games.
A 1-1 draw with Southend United is hardly the ideal preparation for a trip to Manchester but an away day could provide a welcome relief for Scolari and his side given it is games at Stamford Bridge that have proved their Achilles heel to date.
Away from the capital Chelsea have been sensational and it is nine victories on the road that have fuelled their title bid to date. Key to Chelsea's potential success will be to quell the attacking threat provided by Rooney and co and on that score, the return of John Terry from a three-match suspension can only help.
Michael Ballack's return will also be welcomed by Scolari, with the Brazilian likely to field the German alongside Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel in a three-man midfield. Deco and Salomon Kalou will compete for a wide right role.
Jose Bosingwa has picked up a knock this week but the buccaneering full-back is expected to hand his manager another fitness fillip and declare himself fit to play.
Nicolas Anelka may be the Premier League's top goalscorer but 16 goals in all competitions is unlikely to save him from the axe, as Didier Drogba will be given the nod to start.
With participation in the Club World Cup proving somewhat of a mid-season distraction, Sir Alex Ferguson will be eager to make up ground on leading duo Chelsea and Liverpool as quickly as possible. Few of those on the periphery made a case for regular involvement in midweek against Derby, so it will be a case of the big guns returning to the fray on Sunday.
First choice strike pair Rooney and Berbatov will reclaim their respective places ahead of Carlos Tevez, while a fortunate Ronaldo will figure after emerging from writing off his Ferrari on Thursday without a scratch.
Edwin van der Sar will return between the posts, while Rio Ferdinand will partner Nemanja Vidic at the heart of United's defence providing he can shrug off a back complaint. Gary Neville will also likely start ahead of the exciting but inexperienced Rafael da Silva at right-back.
While history has dictated United usually play Chelsea for the final time at the back end of the season, both managers will be well aware three points on Sunday could play a major role in deciding the eventual destination of this term's title crown.
Possible starting XIs
Man United: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, Kalou, Cole, Drogba
