Aston Villa v Chelsea BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE Preview May 11, 2013
The most recent encounter between these two sides at Villa Park was just last season, in March 2012, as the visitors ran out cosy 2 - 4 winners in a Premier League match.
A vast improvement in form over the last couple of months suggests they should have enough to steer clear of trouble, with five victories collected in their last eight outings.
Paul Lambert will be taking nothing for granted, though, even after hitting the 40-point mark for the season and climbing into 13th place.
Chelsea will be hoping to keep Villa guessing, with the Blues focused on their own battles.
A 2-2 draw with capital rivals Tottenham Hotspur in midweek means they are yet to book a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.
They have, however, gone unbeaten through their last six fixtures - with Rafa Benitez landing the Manager of the Month award for May.
A positive result at Villa Park would allow the Spaniard to rest a little easier, with Chelsea's superior goal difference meaning three points are all that are required to remain at European football's top table.
Victory on Saturday would also allow the Blues to head into their Europa League final date with Benfica on Wednesday full of confidence and determined to get their hands on major silverware.
Aston Villa will hand Matthew Lowton, who suffered a thigh strain against Norwich City last time out, a late fitness test as he looks to maintain his ever-present record.
Karim El Ahmadi (thigh) and Ciaran Clark (foot) will be absent once again, with the pair having sat out Villa's last two fixtures.
Richard Dunne has returned to training with the development squad as he looks to build up his fitness but, having been sidelined since Euro 2012, the Republic of Ireland international is very unlikely to figure this season.
Aston Villa
Paul Lambert's side have won five of their last eight games, scoring 18 times in the process.
Despite that impressive run, Villa have gone 20 league games without a clean sheet, the longest run by any club in the top flight this season.
Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor have scored 13 of Villa's last 18 goals. Agbonlahor's tally of six in seven games has taken him above Dwight Yorke as Villa's all-time Premier League goalscorer with 63.
Benteke needs two goals to become the first Villa player to score 20 in a league season since Peter Withe in the 1980-1981 title-winning campaign.
Chelsea
Chelsea have scored more headed goals (16) than any other team in the Premier League this season.
The Blues are second in the Premier League form table (W5, D2, L1) behind Arsenal. Villa are third (W5, D1, L2).
However, Chelsea have lost three of their last six games on their travels.
Ramires' midweek goal against Tottenham took his league tally to five, all of which have come at Stamford Bridge. Two of those goals were in the reverse fixture against Villa.
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