All eyes will be on Stamford Bridge on Saturday and on whether Wayne Bridge takes his place in the Manchester City side to face Chelsea - and John Terry.
If the left back, who ruled himself out of contention for the England team on Thursday because of his personal differences with Terry, does play he could have an awkward moment in the pre-match handshake ritual.
City, who have looked desperately short of ideas in recent weeks, welcome back Carlos Tevez after the striker returned from Argentina where he had spent time with his wife and premature baby.
Emmanuel Adebayour will be out as he serves the first game of a four-match suspension following his midweek red card, while midfielder Patrick Vieira is also suspended.
Chelsea will be without goalkeeper Petr Cech, who tore a calf muscle in Wednesday's Champions League match at Inter Milan. He is expected to be out of action for a month, with Hilario deputising.
Arsenal will be missing forward Andrei Arshavin, midfielder Abou Diaby and defender William Gallas for their trip to Stoke on Saturday, though Croatian striker Eduardo could make a return after missing the last five Arsenal matches.
Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill, who suffered a blood clot in his arm earlier this month and had been expected to be out for several months, will return to light training in two weeks.
Tottenham Hotspur hope to welcome back Vedran Corluka and Wilson Palacios from illness for the visit of Everton on Sunday.
Strikers Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and Peter Crouch (foot) could be available but Ledley King (thigh) is sidelined.
Liverpool will be without Martin Skrtel for the visit of Blackburn Rovers on Sunday after the Slovakia defender broke a metatarsal in his right foot during their midweek Europa League victory at Unirea Urziceni.
Full-back Glen Johnson returned to first team training on Friday but manager Rafael Benitez said he would not be risked. "I was watching him and he was quite sharp. But Sunday will be too soon," Benitez told the club website.
