Today

League positions in brackets

Aston Villa (14) v Sheff Wed (19)

Striker Dwight Yorke will be fit after receiving treatment for a groin strain. Yugoslavian international midfielder Sasa Curcic could step up from the bench in place of Simon Grayson. Ian Taylor is set to retain his midfield place after apologising to manager Brian Little for gesturing to the bench at Liverpool on Monday when replaced by Julian Joachim.

Sheffield Wednesday manager David Pleat may call on Bruce Grobbelaar to play in goal after Matt Clarke's 5-2 nightmare against Derby. Andy Booth and Graham Hyde are both still sidelined and may be joined by Jon Newsome (hamstring), Peter Atherton (knee) and Jim Magilton (ribs).

Last season: Aston Villa 0-1 Sheff Wed, Sheff Wed 2-1 Aston Villa

Last five league matches: Aston Villa LWWWL, Sheff Wed LWLDL

Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa) 3; Benito Carbone (Sheff Wed) 5

Match odds: H 4-7 D 12-5 Sheff Wed 9-2

Referee: N S Barry (Scunthorpe)

Barnsley (18) v Leicester (4)

Barnsley's South African international Eric Tinkler is doubtful with a badly-bruised shin. Nicky Eaden, Peter Shirtliff, Jovo Bosancic (all thigh), John Hendrie (hamstring), and Ashley Ward (knee) all face late fitness tests.

Steve Claridge is not expected to play tomorrow as Leicester manager O'Neill has made it clear the striker does not figure in his long-term plans. Garry Parker is doubtful with a stomach bug, but Muzzy Izzet has shaken off an ankle injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Barnsley WLLLL, Leicester DLWWD

Top scorers: Neil Redfearn (Barnsley) 4, Steve Walsh (Leicester) 3

Match odds: H 2-1 D 9-4 A 11-10 Referee: S W Dunn (Bristol)

Chelsea (5) v Newcastle (7)

Defender Frank Sinclair is back from a three-match ban for Chelsea and manager Ruud Gullit also has Italian international midfielder Roberto Di Matteo back. Michael Duberry's ankle injury is less serious than first feared, although he is still ruled out.

Skipper Rob Lee is Newcastle's biggest injury doubt, having tweaked his thigh muscle against Everton in midweek. England team-mate Stuart Pearce (hamstring) is definitely out. Faustino Asprilla has felt unwell since Wednesday's victory, but is expected to recover in time.

Last season: Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle, Newcastle 3-1 Chelsea

Last five league matches: Chelsea WWWLD, Newcastle WWLWW

Top scorers: Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea) 4, Faustino Asprilla (Newcastle) 6

Match odds: H 6-5 D 12-5 A 7-4

Referee: M A Riley (Leeds)

Crystal Palace (9) v Bolton (17)

Palace manager Steve Coppell will make late fitness checks on Attilio Lombardo (thigh), Paul Warhurst (flu). Neil Emblen and Simon Rodger are definitely ruled out but Bruce Dyer (ankle) is now fully fit.

Nathan Blake is likely to partner Peter Beardsley up front for Bolton, with John McGinlay suffering from flu and an Achilles injury. Ex-Middlesbrough full-back Neil Cox has yet to recover from a hamstring strain.

Last season: Crystal Palace 1-1 Bolton; Bolton 2-2 Crystal Palace

Last five league matches: Crystal Palace LLLWD, Bolton LDLDD

Top Scorers: Attilio Lombardo (Crystal Palace) 3, Nathan Blake (Bolton) 3

Match Odds: H 5-4 D 9-4 A 7-4

Referee: D R Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)

Derby (12) v Southampton (20)

Dean Sturridge and Aljosa Asanovic are out in the cold for Derby following their Rams' 5-2 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. Deon Burton plays up front alongside the Costa Rican Paulo Wanchope with Italian striker Francesco Baiano tucked in behind the two forwards.

Carlton Palmer is set to make his first appearance for Southampton since his move from Leeds with Dutchman Ken Monkou out with a groin injury. Matt Le Tissier is confident of a return after missing the midweek defeat against Leeds with a hamstring injury. Egil Ostenstad will undergo a late fitness test on his ankle injury which has forced him to miss the last two games.

Last season: Derby 1-1 Southampton, Southampton 3-1 Derby

Last five league matches: Derby LWWLW, Southampton WLLDL

Top scorers: Francesco Baiano (Derby) 3, Kevin Davies (Southampton) 4

Match odds: H 4-5 D 9-4 A 3-1

Referee: K W Burge (Tonypandy)

Everton (16) v Arsenal (1)

Nicky Barmby is out of the Everton team with a back injury, and Craig Short and Gareth Farrelly are also injured, while Andy Hinchcliffe is serving a one-match suspension. Everton will make late tests on Duncan Ferguson (calf), Graham Stuart (foot) and Danny Williamson (groin).

Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon is almost certainly out with a calf injury, with Frenchman Gilles Grimandi in line to replace him. Midfielder Ray Parlour is expected to shrug off a hamstring strain but manager Arsene Wenger has Portuguese winger Luis Boa Morte and David Platt standing by.

Last season: Everton 0-2 Arsenal, Arsenal 3-1 Everton

Last five league matches: Everton LDLWL Arsenal DDWWW

Top scorers: Gary Speed (Everton) 3; Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) 8

Match odds: H 2-1 D 9-4 A 11-10

Referee: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)

Leeds (8) v Man Utd (2)

Leeds will give South African international Lucas Radebe a late fitness check on his calf injury. Skipper David Hopkin plays despite the after effects of a virus that cost him his place against Leicester last Saturday and forced his substitution towards the end of the midweek match at Southampton.

Manchester United will take a step closer to a fullstrength line with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ryan Giggs battling for a starting place. Both were late substitutes in Wednesday's draw against Chelsea.

Last season: Leeds 0-4 Man Utd, Man Utd 1-0 Leeds

Last five league matches: Leeds LLWLW, Man Utd WWWDD

Top scorers: Rod Wallace (Leeds) 5; Andy Cole, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, David Beckham (Man Utd) 2

Match odds: H 9-4 D 9-4 A Evens

Referee: M J D Bodenham (East Looe)

Tottenham (13) v Wimbledon (15)

Spurs' manager Gerry Francis is hoping he can pair Les Ferdinand and Chris Armstrong up front for the first time. Armstrong is set to start his first game of the season while Ferdinand is hoping to return from a stomach muscle strain.

Dons' boss Joe Kinnear may give new signing Michael Hughes his debut. Midfielder Neil Ardley is definitely out (knee) and Kinnear will make a late decision on Marcus Gayle who has spent the past two days in hospital for tests on a mystery virus.

Last season: Tottenham 1-0 Wimbledon, Wimbledon 1-0 Tottenham

Last five league matches: Tottenham WDLDD, Wimbledon LLWLW

Top scorers: Les Ferdinand (Tottenham) 3; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 4

Match odds: H 4-5 D 9-4 A 3-1

Referee: P A Durkin (Portland)

West Ham (11) v Liverpool (6)

Andy Impey is in line to make his debut for West Ham after completing his £1.2 million move from QPR. Ian Moore is expected to be on the bench against the club he admits to supporting.

Paul Ince and Jason McAteer are back in the reckoning after missing the midweek victory over Aston Villa through injury, Ince with a thigh muscle problem and McAteer a damaged cheekbone. Ince is expected to return as captain, while McAteer and Karlheinz Riedle could both be on the bench.

Last season: West Ham 1-2 Liverpool, Liverpool 0-0 West Ham

Last five league matches: West Ham DWLLL, Liverpool DWWDW

Top scorers: John Hartson (West Ham) 4; Steve McManaman, Karlheinz Riedle, Michael Owen (Liverpool) 3

Match odds: H 2-1 D 9-4 A 11-10

Referee: D J Gallagher (Banbury)

Tomorrow

Blackburn (3) v Coventry (10)

Chris Sutton will be fit to play for Blackburn despite missing training to rest a groin injury. Defender Marlon Broomes is still out with his knee ligament injury.

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan has to check on the fitness of Darren Huckerby, John Salako and Dion Dublin. Paul Williams starts a three-match ban with Gary Breen taking his place.

Last season: Blackburn 4-0 Coventry; Coventry 0-0 Blackburn

Last five league matches: Blackburn WWLDD Coventry DLWDD

Top scorers: Chris Sutton (Blackburn) 9; Dion Dublin (Coventry) 4

Match odds: H 1-2 D 12-5 A 11-2

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)