English Premier League leaders Manchester United continue their title bid against Aston Villa on Saturday knowing that champions Chelsea, though wounded, will come out fighting in the coming months.
Three consecutive draws for Chelsea allowed United to stride into 2007 six points clear but the Londoners are unlikely to continue being so charitable when central defender and inspirational skipper John Terry finally returns from injury.
Terry, who escaped a ban in midweek after admitting an improper conduct charge during the November defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, had been expected to play some part against Wigan Athletic on Saturday after back surgery.
However, manager Jose Mourinho said after their 1-1 League Cup semi-final first leg draw with Wycombe Wanderers in midweek that Terry would not be ready to face Wigan.
United take on Villa for the third time in less than a month, having won the league clash at Villa Park 3-0 followed by last week's 2-1 FA Cup defeat of the Midlands club.
That made it 10 straight wins against Villa and although the odds are stacked heavily on an 11th at Old Trafford, United's assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has warned they must maintain their form.
"We deserve our position because we're playing the best football in the league at the moment and all the lads are doing very well," he told Manchester United Radio.
SIX CLEAR
"We haven't won anything yet though. We cannot just enjoy the fact that we're six points clear, we need to build on that. If we don't, then that is when you make mistakes and one small mistake could represent big punishment for us."
Chelsea's last league win came at Wigan on Dec. 23 when Arjen Robben scored in stoppage time to seal a fortunate 3-2 victory.
They should get back to winning ways on Saturday, especially as five straight league defeats for Wigan leaves them hovering just above the drop zone.
Third-placed Liverpool will be hoping to put a miserable week behind them at bottom club Watford.
Tuesday's shattering 6-3 home defeat by Arsenal in the League Cup following on the heels of a 3-1 FA Cup exit against the same opponents, also at Anfield, has left the club with little prospect of silverware this season.
They are 14 points shy of United and face European champions Barcelona in the Champions League.
Injuries to Luis Garcia and Mark Gonzales during the League Cup drubbing doubled the misery for manager Rafael Benitez who has come under fire from fans over his team selection.
Fourth-placed Arsenal are certain to find their trip to in-form Blackburn Rovers more testing.
Since losing 6-2 to Arsenal at The Emirates stadium last month, Rovers have won four in a row and rejoined the battle for UEFA Cup places.
In other weekend fixtures Bolton Wanderers, in fifth place, host Manchester City and Portsmouth, in sixth, travel to relegation-threatened Sheffield United.
Movements through the transfer window have been scarce so far, although West Ham United have acted quickly to try to rescue their increasingly dire situation.
The Hammers, third from bottom after a New Year's Day horror show at Reading where they lost 6-0, will have new signing Luis Boa Morte in action against his old club Fulham.
Seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur take on Newcastle United on Sunday when Everton host Reading.
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