Everton take on Crystal Palace at Goodison Park with the Toffee's desperate to move back into the top four of the premier league.
The two Merseyside clubs are the form teams in the Premier League right now with Liverpool winning nine in a row to put them on the verge of a championship and Everton winning seven in a row to give them a realistic chance of Champions League football.
Roberto Martinez would have seen his side slip out of the top four last night as Arsenal cruised to a 3-1 win over West Ham at the Emirates. However the blue half of Merseyside still have their destiny in their own hands as this fixture counts as their game in hand over Arsenal and if the Blues keep on winning then they'll have a chance for Champions League football for the first time in nine years.
Despite Everton's brilliant recent form and season as a whole Roberto Martinez has been questioned on whether his team are strong enough mentally ahead of their tough run in. When asked about the big games ahead at his press conference Martinez said: "When there is real meaning in every point you play for, psychologically you need to be very strong."
In comparison Crystal Palace will arrive at Goodison Park full of confidence themselves as Tony Pullis team are also one of the form sides in the league after winning three in a row.The former Stoke manager has been a revelation in South London since taking over from Ian Holloway in November when Palce were bottom of the league and looking a definite for the drop.
However is this really a shock to English football fans considering Pullis has never been relegated as a manager in his 20 year career across all levels. The Eagles aren't mathematically safe yet but it would take a massive collapse for a immeadite ruturn to the Championship to occur.
Speaking in his pre match news conference the former Gillingham boss was keen for the credit to be given to the club's board if safety is confirmed saying: "They've bought the club when it was in a lot of trouble and they've seen it throught to promotion to the Premier League, and if we do it they deserve a lot of credit too."
Stats
Palace haven't won any of their last five meetings against Everton in all competitions
Everton have only conceded 13 goals in 16 games at Goodison Park this season and have only lost once at home
If Everton win it will be the first time they've won 8 in a row since Aprill 1990
Team news
No new injury's for Martinez to deal with however this game is likely to come too soon for defender Phil Jagielka who is out with a hamstring knock which has kept him on the sidelines for two months
Midfielder Dikagoi and Boilasie both face late fitness tests ahead of this one, so loanee Tom Ince could get a chance on Merseyside where he was a youngster at Liverpool