Manchester City entertain struggling Blackburn on Saturday needing a win that, if results elsewhere go their way, could catapult the club into seventh place in the league and into a good position to claim the last place in next season's Europa League.
Shaun Wright-Phillips may have to settle for a place on the bench as Elano's recent for should be enough for the Brazilian to keep his place in the side which is looking for its third consecutive victory after wins against
Manager Mark Hughes will expect a tough game against his former club who themselves need the points for a very different reason. Blackburn currently lie three places above the drop zone, but last week's win against Wigan has moved them closer to safety.
City have been buoyed in the last few games by the form of record signing Robinho, who has scored in each of his last two games, while Stephen Ireland has also continued his excellent season by scoring in last week's game at Everton, his thirteenth of a highly impressive campaign.
Saturday's game will be the eighteenth Premiership meeting between the two sides. Rovers have won ten of the meetings so far, with City only winning three. City's last win against the Lancashire club was back in August 2003, when Michael Tarnat, Joey Barton and Nicholas Anelka all scored in a 3-2 victory at
Many blues will still recall the final day of the 1999/2000 season when City travelled to
If City can reproduce the form they have shown since their defeat to
Prediction: 3-0 home win