The FA Cup is getting down to the business end and while many of the Premier League's big clubs remain there are also a number from outside the top flight in with a shout of the quarter-finals. On Saturday there are two all-Premier League ties as well as a clash between two teams who have swapped divisions from last year.
Here, Sports Mole considers three of the key on-pitch battles on Saturday to decide which teams get into the last eight of this year's competition.
1. Yaya Toure vs. Ramires - Manchester City vs. Chelsea
Less than two weeks ago Jose Mourinho came out on top of the tactical battle with Manuel Pellegrini to come away from the Etihad with three Premier League points - the first side to do so this season. On that day Chelsea won the midfield battle, kept things tight and scored when needed in a 1-0 win. That result will most certainly be in the mind of Pellegrini for this FA Cup clash.
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Vital to his side's chances will be Yaya Toure. He was not allowed an inch of room against Chelsea earlier in the month and City must do all they can to make the most of the powerful Ivorian on Saturday. Whether this means giving him midfield protection further up the field or operating with some big tacklers alongside him is Pellegrini's call, but the fact is that when Toure is in a game City usually perform.
In the league David Luiz and Nemanja Matic were tasked with holding position in front of the back four. We could see similar from Mourinho on Saturday and if so the performance of Ramires will be vital. It would be up to him to choose the right time to support attacks and to make sure the attackers do not get isolated. If he gets it right, Chelsea could well force another upset.
2. Adam Johnson vs. Jay Rodriguez - Sunderland vs. Southampton
At the Stadium of Light it could well be the battle of the World Cup hopefuls. Both Adam Johnson and Jay Rodriguez stand an outside chance of making Roy Hodgson's England squad should their recent fine performances continue and the FA Cup fifth round is as good a stage as any to impress.
A few months ago Sunderland were rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table and looked for all the world to be the favourites for the drop, but then came the resurgence of Johnson. His manager Gus Poyet put it down simply to the player being allowed to play with more freedom, but whatever has happened he is now critical to the Black Cats' chances in the league and cup. He has seven goals in eight games and with Steven Fletcher injured a lot rests on the winger.
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Southampton have won a lot of praise for their high-tempo defence and fast attacking transitions this season and they have a lofty league position to prove it. Key to their performances has been a core of young English talent, in particular Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez. The latter can play anywhere across the front line and whether he is utilised on the left of attack against Sunderland or centrally, the home side must deal with his late runs into the box which so many teams have struggled to defend this season.
3. Craig Noone vs. Jean Beausejour - Cardiff City vs. Wigan Athletic
Had this FA Cup tie taken place last season, Wigan would have been the Premier League side. The now Championship team won the whole thing last season and Cardiff will be wary of that fact as they too are in a big battle to escape the drop. This game for them not only provides a distraction from current league woes but also the chance to build up some momentum for when the Premier League starts again next weekend.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has recently claimed that it is important for his team to start keeping clean sheets, and at the weekend they managed one at home to Aston Villa. The next step is to build on those foundations with creative, attacking play. Battling is important in a relegation scrap, but against Wigan Cardiff have the chance to show what they can do going forward, and key to this will be one of their most impressive performers in recent weeks - Craig Noone. He has the ability to change games and, mainly operating from the right, he will be directly up against Jean Beausejour.
The Chilean international is a left-back who prefers going forward to defending and his discipline in a game where he might well be needing to defend more often than he would like is vital. Should he manage to keep his shape and get the opportunity to attack then Beausejour might well have had a big say in an excellent Wigan win in Cardiff.
Matt Domm
