Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion meet in the Premier League on Tuesday evening in the first of their West Midlands derby double header.

The Baggies make the short trip to Villa Park twice in the space of five days this week as they follow up their league clash with an FA Cup quarter-final.

The local rivals have enjoyed contrasting fortunes in 2015 thus far - the Villans were five points and four places better off than their neighbours on New Year's Day.

However, they have yet to collect a point since and even swapping Paul Lambert for Tim Sherwood in the dugout has not stopped their alarming slide into the drop zone.

Sherwood lost his second successive match since taking charge as Villa fell to a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday, which left them 19th in the table.

Albion's change of management has had much more of an impact, with serial relegation-dodger Tony Pulis having guided them eight points away from trouble.

Following their 1-0 victory over Southampton at The Hawthorns, West Brom have won six out of 10 matches and kept seven clean sheets since the Welshman's appointment.

Saido Berahino fired in the second-minute winner against the Saints, but both he and strike partner Brown Ideye are carrying knocks ahead of tomorrow's match.

With Victor Anichebe also a doubt, Pulis is short of genuine forward options and may turn to Stephane Sessegnon to play in behind Ideye, leaving Berahino time to recuperate for Saturday's second instalment in the cup.

Like Albion's 17-goal top scorer, James Morrison played versus Southampton despite having not trained for most of the week. He is unlikely to be risked again and therefore Callum McManaman could be given a start on the wing.

Former Villa academy graduate Craig Gardner, who scored the winner for the Baggies when these sides met in December's reverse fixture, is expected to make a fifth start in a row in midfield after forcing his way into Pulis's team.

Villa have captain Ron Vlaar back from suspension and he should replace Jores Okore in a defence which could also see Aly Cissokho return at the expense of Matt Lowton, who deputised for the injured Frenchman and Kieran Richardson at left-back against the Magpies.

One of Ashley Westwood or Tom Cleverley are likely to make way to allow Sherwood to switch back to the 4-4-2 formation that he used in his first home game in charge - a last-minute 2-1 defeat to Stoke City.

January signing Carles Gil could be recalled to add some extra creativity to a side which have failed to score in eight of their last 10 matches. Libor Kozak, Philippe Senderos, Chris Herd and Nathan Baker remain sidelined.

Christian Benteke scored the winner from the penalty spot as Villa prevailed 4-3 in this fixture last season. The once-unplayable Belgian international forward has only found the net six times in the Premier League since.

Villa:

Form in Premier League: LLLLLL
Form in all competitions: LLLWLL

Possible starting lineup: Guzan; Hutton, Vlaar, Clark, Cissokho; Sinclair, Cleverley, Delph, Gil; Agbonlahor, Benteke

West Brom:

Form in Premier League: DLDWDW
Form in all competitions: LDWWDW

Possible starting lineup: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt; McManaman, Fletcher, Yacob, Gardner; Sessegnon, Ideye

Sports Mole says: 0-1