Saturday
Aston Villa v Southampton
Aston Villa will have key midfielder Ian Taylor, who has scored in each of his last four games, back having been suspended at Leeds on Monday. He is expected to replace Steve Stone, who deputised in that 2-1 win. Villa also have England midfielder Lee Hendrie back in the squad after missing the last six games with an ankle injury.
Southampton should have centre backs Dean Richards and Claus Lundekvam fit again. Richards England under-21 striker James Beattie has recovered from a calf injury but Stuart Ripley is doubtful with flu and midfielder Matthew Oakley (knee) is definitely out.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 13
Marian Pahars (Southampton) 8
Match odds: H 1-2 A 5-1 D 12-5
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)
Charlton v QPR
Charlton Striker Clive Mendonca has picked up a groin strain in training and manager Alan Curbishley has decided not to risk him. Captain Mark Kinsella has shaken off a dead leg and will play in midfield but Keith Jones is ruled out with an Achilles injury. Steve Brown is set to continue to deputise at the centre of defence for the injured Eddie Youds. Gerry Francis will give Jermaine Darlington every chance of shaking off a hamstring injury. The QPR manager has a selection crisis with Tim Breacker (hamstring), Danny Maddix (knee), Karl Ready (back) and Matt Rose (calf) all out while Brian McGovern, the centreback on loan from Arsenal, is cup-tied.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Andy Hunt (Charlton) 11
Stuart Wardley (QPR) 12
Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 9-4
Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville, Hants)
Coventry v Burnley
Coventry will field an unchanged team from the one that picked up four points in matches with Arsenal and Chelsea over the festive period. Gordon Strachan is forced to keep faith with makeshift full backs Paul Telfer and Steve Froggatt as City still have five defenders on the long-term injury list.
Burnley have one doubt ahead of the game with Gordon Armstrong still struggling to shake off a knee injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Coventry) 14
Andy Payton (Burnley) 13
Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2
Referee: S J Lodge (Barnsley)
Everton v Birmingham
Everton expect to have midfielder Nick Barmby fit following a horror clash with Leicester's Tim Flowers on Monday. They also expect to have Richard Dunne and Francis Jeffers fit to play. Injuries and illness will keep Abel Xavier and Alex Cleland out again.
Birmingham's Winger Stan Lazaridis is unlikely to be fit enough in time to play. Long-term injury victims Paul Furlong, Andrew Johnson, Peter Ndlovu and Jon McCarthy are all still out.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 9
Paul Furlong, Marcelo (Birmingham) 8
Match odds: H 4-11 A 8-1 D 13-5
Referee: S W Dunn (Bristol)
Fulham v Wimbledon
Fulham are buoyed by the possible return of top scorer Geoff Horsfield, as well as Simon Coleman and Paul Peschisolido. Team manager Paul Bracewell may be without the services of Karlheinz Riedle, Sean Davis and Alan Neilson.
Ben Thatcher's nightmare week has continued with injury ruling him out at Craven Cottage. Marcus Gayle and Carl Leaburn are both doubtful whilst Robbie Earle and Walid Badir will undergo late fitness tests. Alan Kimble is expected to return.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Geoff Horsfield (Fulham) 12
Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 15
Match odds: H 6-4 A 8-5 D 2-1
Referee: J T Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)
Grimsby v Bolton
Grimsby are certain to be without the services of Steve Livingstone (flu), Richard Smith (back) and David Smith (calf). Bolton's Gareth Farrelly's fitness is a worry after he tweaked his hamstring at Walsall on Monday. Full back Darren Holloway, on loan from Sunderland, has not been permitted to play by the Premiership side. Jimmy Phillips should slot in on the right side of defence.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Lee Ashcroft (Grimsby) 10
Eidur Gudjohnsen (Bolton) 10
Match odds: H 11-8 A 8-5 D 11-5
Referee: K M Lynch (Kirk Hammerton, Nr York)
Newcastle v Sheffield Utd
England midfielder Kieron Dyer and French defender Didier Domi are back in the Newcastle squad. Dyer has recovered from a groin injury while Domi returns from a long-term ankle problem, but Alain Goma is doubtful with flu. Rob Lee is out with a thigh injury. Stephen Glass also misses out after being given compassionate leave to attend his grandfather's funeral.
Sheffield's Paul Hall and Michael Brown, on loan from Coventry and Manchester City respectively, are cup-tied while Australian defender Shaun Murphy serves a ban. Paul Devlin (hamstring) is extremely doubtful and Wayne Quinn is nursing a shoulder injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 22
Martin Smith (Sheff Utd) 14
Match odds: H 2-7 A 15-2 D 10-3
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)
Plymouth v Preston
Plymouth go into this tie aiming to inflict another shock after previously ousting Brentford and Reading. Manager Kevin Hodges has no injuries to contend with. Preston will be without striker Steve Basham after a recurrence of an ankle injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Ian Stonebridge (Plymouth) 11
Jonathon Macken (Preston) 16
Match odds: H 12-5 A 10-11 D 9-4
Referee: P A Durkin (Portland, Dorset)
Sheffield Wed v Wolves
Sheffield Wednesday striker Andy Booth misses his second successive match due to a groin strain, while winger Petter Rudi continues to have an Achilles problem. Gerald Sibon retain's his place up front while Mark McKeever looks set to deputise for Rudi.
Wolves are hoping key defender Keith Curle and striker Ade Akinbiyi will be fit.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Gilles De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 7
Ade Akinbiyi (Wolverhampton) 12
Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 9-4
Referee: G P Barber (Tring, Herts)
Tranmere v Sunderland
Tranmere have a full squad to choose from even though flu had been threatening the side. Only goalkeeper Joe Murphy is missing with a broken collarbone. Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has recovered from flu and is expected to take over from Andy Marriott. Nicky Summerbee (concussion) and full back Chris Makin (knee) have recovered but Niall Quinn is ruled out with an ankle injury while Kevin Kilbane is cup tied. With Danny Dichio recovering from a back operation, manager Peter Reid has no experienced striker available and is expected to either play 19-year-old Michael Reddy in attack or adopt a five-man midfield.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Wayne Allison (Tranmere) 12
Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 18
Match odds: H 11-4 A 10-11 D 2-1
Referee: M A Riley (Leeds)
Wrexham v Cambridge Utd
Wrexham's promising youngsters Steve Roberts and Robin Gibson are both injured while Gareth Owen is struggling with a back injury.
Paul Wanless is Cambridge's main doubt with flu and is not expected to recover in time.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Craig Faulconbridge (Wrexham) 9
Martin Butler (Cambridge Utd) 18
Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee: R J Olivier (Sutton Coldfield)
Third-Round Replays
Saturday
Gillingham v Walsall
Strikers Rodney Rowe and Iffy Onuora, recent recruits from York and Swindon, are cup-tied for the replay while Carl Asaba is injured. Gillingham are also without cup-tied Ty Gooden, while Adrian Pennock is out injured.
Walsall's Kevin Harper and Jamie Forrester are eligible to play.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Andy Thomson (Gillingham) 9
Michael Ricketts (Walsall) 7
Match odds: H 10-11 A 11-4 D 2-1
Referee: E K Wolstenholme (Blackburn)
Oxford v Nottingham Forest
Oxford's Mark Watson, who has been out with a bad back should be fit to play. Paul Tait and Kevin Francis will be available, as will Paul Lundin. Manager David Platt is likely to name an unchanged side. Talented youngster Chris Doig (ankle) is once again expected to be absent.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Matt Murphy (Oxford) 13
Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 9
Match odds: H 11-5 A 11-10 D 2-1
Referee: A P D'urso (Billericay, Essex)
Fourth Round - Sunday
Arsenal v leicester
Captain Tony Adams has been ruled out with a foot injury, although Martin Keown is fit again. Manager Arsene Wenger is now waiting to see if striker Kanu can obtain his release from international duty with Nigeria. Arsenal are already without injured Dutch stars Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars plus England midfielder Ray Parlour.
Leicester's Emile Heskey has missed training this week with flu and Tony Cottee is to have a late test on a calf injury. Goalkeeper Tim Flowers (leg), Muzzy Izzet (calf) and Andrew Impey (groin) are already ruled out. Darren Eadie looks certain to start and Steve Guppy is included in the squad.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Kanu, Marc Overmars (Arsenal) 10
Tony Cottee, Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 9
Match odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 13-5
Referee: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)
Manchester City v Leeds
City are struggling to fight off a flu epidemic that has hit skipper Richard Edghill, Danny Granville, Tony Grant and Jamie Pollock. With Robert Taylor cup-tied, manager Joe Royle must decide whether to pair Lee Peacock, Paul Dickov, Danny Allsopp or Shaun Wright-Phillips with Shaun Goater up front.
Leeds manager David O'Leary will be boosted by the return of captain Lucas Radebe and influential midfielder Lee Bowyer from bans. Midfielder Stephen McPhail should be fit to play after a hamstring problem. But leading scorer Michael Bridges is suspended, which means Darren Huckerby should partner Alan Smith up front.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Top scorers: Robert Taylor (Man City) 19
Michael Bridges (Leeds) 13
Match odds: H 11-4 A 10-11 D 2-1
Referee: D J Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon)
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill
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