With over two thirds of the season gone, a more familiar climax is looming and buoyed by midweek wins in the Champions League, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal can all strengthen their claims for top four places this weekend.
Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup final on Sunday and Liverpool, who have not quite given up hope of catching them, have a chance to close to within four points when they play at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
"He twisted his ankle in the first half and we were waiting but we could see that he wasn't fully fit and it would be a risk for the next games," coach Rafa Benitez told reporters in Madrid.
Arsenal, in fifth, trail Villa by six points but after a 1-0 win over Roma in the Champions League, and with players returning from injury, Arsene Wenger's team should be confident of staying in the hunt when they host Fulham on Saturday.
Stoke are one of the three promoted clubs from last year and, perched one place above the relegation zone, their position is part of the other side of the season's story.
