Saturday, March 12th
Birmingham (5) v Leicester (19)
Birmingham winger Stan Lazaridis is fit after his hamstring strain, and his return is well timed because Damien Johnson is serving a one-match ban. Blues are down to 14 fit regulars thanks to a variety of ailments, the most serious of which is midfielder David Dunn's hamstring problem. Senegal international midfielder Aliou Cisse is set to win a rare call-up to the starting line-up.
Leicester boss Micky Adams will have only 16 senior players to chose from, having decided not to involve Paul Dickov, Frank Sinclair and Keith Gillespie, who have been released on bail after charges of sexual aggression during the club trip to La Manga. Midfielder James Scowcroft starts a three-match ban but Ben Thatcher is available after suspension and fit-again Billy McKinlay plus Matt Elliott make up the squad.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Birmingham D W D W W; Leicester L L D D D
Top scorers: Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) 14; Les Ferdinand (Leicester) 11
Match odds: H 8-5 A 9-2 D 12-5
Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire)
Blackburn (15) v Arsenal (1)
Rovers manager Graeme Souness will assess the fitness of England Under-21 striker Jonathan Stead. Stead, who has made a big impact at Ewood Park since a #1.2million move from Huddersfield, tore a hamstring at Charlton three weeks ago but has made a good recovery and is named in the squad.
Dennis Bergkamp is ruled out after being kicked in the ribs during the midweek Champions League win against Celta Vigo. Ray Parlour, Sylvain Wiltord and Jeremie Aliadiere are ruled out by injury. Arsene Wenger could turn to Jose Reyes up front, while Edu may be rested after his wife gave birth to their first child last night.
Last season: Blackburn 2 Arsenal 0; Arsenal 1 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Blackburn L W D L D; Arsenal W W W W W
Top scorers: Andy Cole (Blackburn) 9; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 29
Match odds: H 5-1 A 1-2 D 12-5
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)
Bolton (12) v Chelsea (2)
Youri Djorkaeff misses out after suffering a hamstring injury in last week's defeat at Birmingham. Former Chelsea defender Emerson Thome (ankle) should be fit as Bolton seek an unlikely double over Claudio Ranieri's men.
Goalkeepers Carlo Cudicini (broken finger) and stand-in Neil Sullivan (thigh) have both suffered injuries so Marco Ambrosio and Yves Makabu-Makalambay are in the squad. Defender Glen Johnson (ankle) is also out for a couple of weeks while Eidur Gudjohnsen and Adrian Mutu are suspended.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Bolton 0; Bolton 1 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Bolton W D D L L; Chelsea W W W L W
Top scorers: Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 10; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 13
Match odds: H 7-2 A 4-6 D 23-10
Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire)
Charlton (6) v Middlesbrough (11)
Midfielder Jason Euell and defender Chris Perry return after a knee injury and suspension respectively, while Shaun Bartlett has staked his claim for a place in Charlton's starting line-up by scoring four goals in the last two reserve matches.
Boro full-back Danny Mills misses out on a return to his former club through suspension - Stuart Parnaby could take over. Malcolm Christie (broken leg) and Carlo Nash (finger) are also sidelined, while striker Szilard Nemeth is hoping for a starting place after scoring as a substitute in the last two games.
Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Charlton 1; Charlton 1 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Charlton L L L W L; Middlesbrough L W L L W
Top scorers: Jason Euell (Charlton) 7; Juninho (Middlesbrough) 8
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: M Dean (Wirral)
Everton (14) v Portsmouth (17)
Everton boss David Moyes' injury problems are easing, with Chinese star Li Tie, who is still in his homeland recovering from a broken leg, the only long-term absentee. Lee Carsley, Francis Jeffers, Scot Gemmill and Alex Nyarko all came through midweek reserve run-outs, although tomorrow's game is likely to come to soon for David Weir, Richard Wright and Alessandro Pistone.
Winger Steve Stone is set to return to the Pompey starting line-up after back and shin problems - he will probably replace suspended Alexei Smertin in an otherwise unchanged team. Striker Teddy Sheringham is still not 100% fit following his recent return from hamstring trouble, although centre-back Arjan de Zeeuw should play despite a broken nose.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Everton D L L D W; Portsmouth L D L L D
Top scorers: Duncan Ferguson (Everton) 8; Teddy Sheringham & Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Portsmouth) 8
Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5
Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire)
Fulham (9) v Leeds (20)
Fulham were rocked by a major injury blow today when captain Lee Clark collapsed in training with the calf injury which sidelined him for much of last season - the midfielder has been sent for scans. Striker Facundo Sava is fit after his calf injury.
Leeds caretaker manager Eddie Gray is without midfielder Eirik Bakke, who has a serious thigh injury and is likely to be replaced by Stephen McPhail. Striker Alan Smith has shaken off leg trouble and will join Mark Viduka in attack.
Last season: Leeds 2 Fulham 0; Fulham 1 Leeds 0
Last five league matches: Fulham W D L L D; Leeds L L W D D
Top scorers: Luis Boa Morte (Fulham) 8; Alan Smith & Mark Viduka (Leeds) 7
Match odds: H 8-11 A 3-1 D 12-5
Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire)
Sunday, March 14th
Man City (16) v Man Utd (3)
Paulo Wanchope could make a surprise return to the bench for City after playing for the reserves in midweek. Kevin Keegan could also recall Joey Barton in midfield. Nicolas Anelka serves the final game of a three-match ban.
United have suffered a double injury blow with Roy Keane sidelined by a hamstring strain and Quinton Fortune ruled out for the rest of the season by knee surgery. With Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville suspended United's three remaining senior defenders are Phil Neville, Wes Brown and John O'Shea with Danny Pugh in line for a first Premiership start at left-back. Louis Saha returns but Cristiano Ronaldo (thigh) is unlikely to figure and Eric Djemba-Djemba is on international duty with Cameroon.
Last season: Man Utd 1 Man City 1; Man City 3 Man Utd 1
Last five league matches: Man City L D L W L; Man Utd W W L D D
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 19; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 26
Match odds: H 3-1 A 8-11 D 12-5
Referee: S Bennett (Kent)
Southampton (13) v Liverpool (7)
Swedish midfielder Anders Svensson is back in contention for a starting place for Southampton new manager Paul Sturrock's first game in charge. Svensson has been out for a month with a knee injury but proved his fitness in a behind closed doors midweek friendly, meaning midfielder Matthew Oakley is the only absentee.
Liverpool could be forced into changes with skipper Steven Gerrard and striker Milan Baros doubtful. The pair picked up injuries in the 1-1 drawn UEFA Cup tie with Marseille on Thursday. Goalscorer Baros, only just back from a broken ankle, has a groin strain and Gerrard was clearly troubled by an ankle problem.
Last season: Southampton 0 Liverpool 1; Liverpool 3 Southampton 0
Last five league matches: Southampton L D L D D; Liverpool D D D W D
Top scorers: James Beattie (Southampton) 12; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 12
Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)
Tottenham (10) v Newcastle (4)
Spurs have recalled goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld from a loan spell at Gillingham as regular goalkeeping deputy Rob Burch suffered an ankle injury playing for the reserves in midweek. Frederic Kanoute and Christian Ziege return to the squad after missing the trip to Middlesbrough but Simon Davies is still out.
Last season: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1; Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham L W W D L; Newcastle D W D W D
Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 14; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 19
Match odds: H 7-5 A 8-5 D 21-10
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)
Wolverhampton (18) v Aston Villa (8)
Wolves boss Dave Jones has no new injury concerns - although Nathan Blake (neck) is still ruled out. Paul Butler will line up again in central defence having escaped suspension at his FA disciplinary hearing this week, while Jones' main choice concerns his front line with Vio Ganea and Steffen Iversen pushing for a recall in place of Kenny Miller.
Villa manager David O'Leary would love to shake-up his squad but must rely on the 16 who lost at Everton two weeks ago. Mark Delaney and Marcus Allback continue their recoveries from a foot injury and a groin operation respectively while midfielder Gavin McCann's serves the last match of a five-game suspension.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wolverhampton D L L W D; Aston Villa W W W D L
Top scorers: Alex Rae (Wolverhampton) 8; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 18
Match odds: H 7-5 A 8-5 D 21-10
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)