Aston Villa take on Tottenham Hotspurs in the Premier League clash this saturday which promises to be an indication of which of these two teams is best equipped to challenge the Premier League big four status quo.
Spurs will be brimming with confidence following their 9-1 thrashing of Wigan but their record at Villa Park is not overly impressive. Tottenham won there last season but that remains their only away win at Villa Park in six visits.
Martin O’Neill’s team are unbeaten in five at Villa Park and pose a tough ground for Jermain Defoe to repeat his 5-goal heroics from last weekend.
Tottenham skipper Ledley King is still out with a hamstring injury.
Luka Modric has trained with the youth team as he steps up his rehabilitation from a fractured fibula but is still short of fitness.
Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is a long-term absentee.
Villa have lost just one of their last eight matches and will also come into the game with a high level of confidence, although O'Neill was at White Lane to see Spurs dismantle Wigan and he admits he was impressed.
Stewart Downing could make his home debut after the England winger made his comeback after a seven-month lay-off with a broken foot as a substitute at Burnley and then played 75 minutes for the reserves in midweek.
However, central defender James Collins will have a late fitness test on his groin injury as the former West Ham player missed the game at Turf Moor.
If he is ruled out, Carlos Cuellar will again deputise alongside Richard Dunne at the back.
REVIEW:
Captain Michael Dawson's first goal of the Premier League campaign rescued a deserved point for Tottenham in a 1-all away draw with Aston Villa.
Gabriel Agbonlahor had given Martin O'Neill's side a half-time lead with his eighth goal of the season.
But the second half was completely dominated by the visitors as Villa often dragged all 11 players behind the ball before Dawson broke their resistance.
And only a series of excellent saves from Brad Friedel prevented Tottenham from chalking up its fourth away victory of 2009-2010.
Spurs deservedly fell behind in a lacklustre first half when Ashley Young's corner was headed towards goal by Carlos Cuellar, Beniot Assou-Ekotto clearing off the line but only as far as Gabriel Agbonlahor who managed to bundle the ball home.
Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker came into the side for Steve Sidwell while Habib Beye replaced ill left-back Stephen Warnock. He took over at right-back from Luke Young, who switched to the opposite flank. Spurs central defender Jonathan Woodgate's groin problem meant he made way for Sebastien Bassong.
Villa, unbeaten at home since the opening day of the campaign, looked full of positive intent in the early stages and started at a high tempo.
But it was home keeper Friedel who was called upon to make the first save of the game. The former Blackburn player had to be alert to tip over a powerful drive from Kranjcar from just outside the box.
After nine minutes, Agbonlahor put Villa ahead. James Milner's near-post corner was met by Cuellar, whose header was blocked on the line by Benoit Assou-Ekotto, but the loose ball broke to Agbonlahor, who squeezed it home.
Friedel had to be alert to tip over a drive from Tom Huddlestone after it had taken a slight deflection off Reo-Coker.
Aaron Lennon saw little of the ball in the opening half which was surprising given the destruction he had caused against Wigan.
Redknapp would have wanted more from his side attacking-wise in the second period - and his players responded.
Friedel had to be at his best to finger-tip a fierce 20-yard drive from Kranjcar around the post at full stretch.
The game was now more open, with Villa looking to catch Spurs on the counter-attack.
A mistake by Huddlestone allowed Agbonlahor to find Ashley Young in space but his centre was just too high for Carew who could get no direction or power on his header.
However, Villa were now dropping back in numbers as the visitors dominated possession-wise.
The impressive Cuellar blocked a shot from Kranjcar after throwing himself at full-stretch. Friedel was again Villa's saviour when he blocked a low shot from Jenas and, although Defoe bundled the rebound into the net, he was adjudged to have handled by referee Phil Dowd.
But after 78 minutes, Dawson deservedly brought Spurs back on level terms when he fired an unstoppable shot past Friedel from the edge of the box.