The FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend but even though the Premier League is having a break, there are matches that could have an impact on the title.
Having lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round, league leaders Leicester City will watch the action on TV with their feet up while the three other sides at the top of the table face a tough workout.
Manchester City have the hardest task: a trip to rejuvenated Chelsea on Sunday. Title favourites, Arsenal, play Championship leaders Hull on Saturday - the third year in a row the two sides have met in the cup – while Spurs welcome Crystal Palace to White Hart Lane.
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Leicester will presumably be hoping all three matches end in draws, forcing their rivals, all of who have European commitments as well, to play another unwanted fixture - while some fans may even allow themselves a sneaking thought that defeat at the weekend might not be a bad thing.
Chelsea vs Man City
Sky Blues boss Manuel Pellegrini finds himself in something of a quandary ahead of the game with Chelsea, says The Guardian. "City have made no attempt to hide their annoyance that their tie against Chelsea is being played on Sunday, three days before they visit Dynamo Kiev for the first leg of their Champions League tie, and Manuel Pellegrini could be forced to select a weakened side at Stamford Bridge," says The Guardian.
With the Citizens slipping off the pace in the Premier League and the Capital One Cup final looming next weekend, Pellegrini has to get his priorities right. "The last thing the Chilean will want to see in west London is the familiar sight of Sergio Aguero [pictured above] pulling up and clutching his hamstring," says the paper.
Chelsea are finally finding some form under interim coach Guus Hiddink and the FA Cup is their final chance to salvage something from a nightmare season.
The Blues "are looking good for a decent end to the season", says the Daily Telegraph. "City look uncharacteristically beatable and could struggle in a big match for a third consecutive week."
Arsenal vs Hull
Arsenal are in a similar boat to City. After Hull on Saturday, there is the small matter of Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday followed by trip to Old Trafford on Sunday. After that, they have the north London derby at White Hart Lane to consider.
So although the Gunners might be the FA Cup holders, the wider scenario means manager Arsene Wenger is likely to field a weakened team against the Tigers.
But all is not lost, as The Guardian notes, because Hull could do the same. They are top of the Championship and promotion will be their priority this season. "If neither side is firing on all cylinders, you'd still expect a home win at the Emirates," says the paper.
Spurs vs Crystal Palace
Tottenham have got it tough at the moment. They drew with Fiorentina in Italy on Thursday, play Palace on Sunday, then face Fiorentina again next Thursday before returning to Premier League action with a game against Swansea. They then face two London derbies in the space of four days against West Ham and, crucially, Arsenal.
But Spurs' success this season has been based on continuity and few pundits expect manager Mauricio Pochettino to ring the changes for the game against Palace. Against Fiorentina on Thursday there were six changes from the team that beat Man City, but the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Eric Dier all played a part.
"There are incorrect theories that head coach Pochettino must change his ways to maintain a title push, amid calls for him to rest more players in the Europa League and FA Cup this week," said the Daily Telegraph earlier this week. "But the numbers actually support Pochettino's belief that his more subtle changes throughout the season are the perfect approach to the busy schedule."
So expect a familiar looking Spurs side against a woefully out-of-form Palace.
The biggest sideshow will involve Emmanuel Adebayor and his performance for Palace against the club still subsidising his wages. He has vowed to celebrate like he means it if he scores against Spurs.
