The Premier League's top two clash on Saturday evening as Chelsea and Manchester City contest the biggest game of the season to date.

Victory over the reigning champions at Stamford Bridge will see Jose Mourinho's side end what has been an up-and-down week eight points clear at the top of the table.

The Blues are already closing in on one trophy, having beaten Liverpool in the Capital One Cup semi-finals to heal some of the wounds from their 'embarrassing' and 'shameful' FA Cup exit to Bradford City only three days prior.

Branislav Ivanovic scored the extra-time winner in another cup classic between the two rivals, but it was Thibaut Courtois's performance over the two legs that arguably secured Chelsea a final date with Tottenham Hotspur on March 1.

Going 120 full-blooded minutes against Liverpool is not ideal preparation for a potential title decider, particularly considering that Chelsea's efforts to reach Wembley perhaps came at the expense of three key players.

Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis picked up hamstring and calf strains respectively, while Diego Costa is likely to be banned after being charged with violent conduct by the Football Association for an alleged stamp on Emre Can.

Mourinho too has been in trouble with the authorities this week, with the FA issuing him a £25,000 fine for his comments made in relation to a "campaign" against Chelsea in the aftermath of the draw with Southampton in December.

Meanwhile, Manuel Pellegrini has had a week to stew in silence since seeing City shocked in the same giant-killing spree that shot down this weekend's opponents.

Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough inflicted a second successive 2-0 home loss on the Citizens, who are now winless in three games in all competitions since Yaya Toure departed for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ivory Coast's 1-0 win over Cameroon on Wednesday took them into the quarter-finals and means that neither the influential midfielder nor new £28m signing Wilfried Bony will be available for City's trip to the capital.

Instead the home fans could find a more familiar face up against them, with Frank Lampard, who netted City's equaliser in the 1-1 draw between these sides in September, in contention on his first return to Stamford Bridge.

Even after that goal, Chelsea supporters cheered the midfielder who became the club's all-time top scorer during a 13-year spell with the Londoners in which he won three English titles and the Champions League.

It remains to be seen whether this loving relationship has been fractured by the controversy and confusion surrounding the 36-year-old's contractual situation at New York City, but Pellegrini may test the waters by selecting him from the start.

Elsewhere, Joe Hart, Gael Clichy and Martin Demichelis should all return to the back five after being rested against Boro, although Eliaquim Mangala is an alternative to the Argentine having recovered from a groin problem.

Sergio Aguero is not quite yet at full match fitness, but will likely be asked to lead the line on his own. Only Costa has more league goals than Aguero's 14 this season.

Especially with Fabregas a major doubt, Mourinho may use John Obi Mikel in a holding role in an attempt to stifle David Silva, much as Arsenal did in their triumph at the Etihad Stadium a fortnight ago.

Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta are expected to return to the team after being benched in midweek, and Didier Drogba is on standby to be given a chance to add to his Chelsea legacy, should Costa be suspended.

Andre Schurrle will not feature as he reportedly prepares to leave the Blues for the Bundesliga, in a move that will allow Chelsea to step up their pursuit of Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado before Monday's transfer deadline.

Chelsea:

Form in Premier League: WWDLWW
Form in all competitions: WWWDLD

Possible starting lineup: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Drogba

Man City:

Form in Premier League: WWDWDL
Form in all competitions: DWWDLL

Possible starting lineup: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando; Silva, Lampard, Navas; Aguero

Sports Mole says: 1-0