Arsenal, coming at Manchester United with a storming late run in the Premiership title race, have home advantage today but face a nasty hurdle in the shape of their bogey club, Wimbledon.
The Gunners gave their best performance of the season when winning 4-1 at Blackburn last Monday but will recall that Wimbledon have not lost in their last nine visits to Highbury. Indeed the Dons won this fixture 1-0 last season and still have the best defensive away record in the division.
Arsenal will be without the suspended defenders Martin Keown and Steve Bould, Remi Garde will probably continue for Lee Dixon, and Matthew Upson, 19 today, is set to make his fifth senior start. Up front Ian Wright is still unfit.
The Dons' midfielder Robbie Earle, who took over the captaincy when Vinnie Jones joined Queens Park Rangers as player-coach, is out with a broken toe suffered in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Southampton at The Dell.
Manchester United, meanwhile, will be without Ryan Giggs and Ronny Johnsen for the visit of Newcastle to Old Trafford. Steve Watson, Steve Howey and Alessandro Pistone are back in contention for Newcastle, for whom Keith Gillespie will be making his 100th league appearance. Alan Shearer is ready for the barrackers at the club he snubbed two years ago.
United fans have not forgiven him for that, and Shearer claimed in his autobiography that at Old Trafford he "is still the most hated footballer alive".
Third-placed Liverpool visit Coventry, who have a midfield crisis with George Boateng and Gavin Strachan doubtful and Paul Telfer suspended. Steve McManaman, Steve Harkness and David Thompson take late fitness tests for Liverpool.
Desperate days at Selhurst Park, where the bottom club Crystal Palace will field Jamie Fullarton against Derby with stitches in a badly gashed leg. Barnsley and Tottenham, both frantic for points, meet in another basement battle at Oakwell, where Jan Aage Fjortoft may play despite bruised ribs. Ashley Ward (thigh strain) is a major doubt and Darren Sheridan, Georgi Hristov, Jovo Bosan cic and Chris Morgan are suspended.
Les Ferdinand is likely to replace Chris Armstrong and join Jurgen Klinsmann in Tottenham's attack but Darren Anderton will again be on the bench even though Moussa Saib is ruled out.
Everton, not yet completely in the clear, entertain Leicester without Nicky Barmby and Danny Cadamarteri, both serving onematch bans. Neil Lennon loses his ever-present record for Leicester this season for the same reason, and Garry Parker replaces him in midfield.
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