Arsenal can climb back into the Premier League's top four with victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Gunners are currently one point adrift of the Champions League places despite winning six of their last eight games.
Defeats to Southampton and rivals Tottenham Hotspur have held them back somewhat and could yet prove costly in a competitive top-four race.
With neither Spurs, the Saints or Liverpool in action until Sunday, Arsenal have the chance to strike the first blow this weekend when they travel to Selhurst Park.
Palace are a changed team from the one which lost in the last minute to their London rivals on the opening day, in the wake of Tony Pulis's pre-season walk-out.
They have won five out of eight matches since Alan Pardew's arrival to climb five points clear of the relegation zone and have already beaten Tottenham during this run.
They fell short of another scalp last weekend as Liverpool came from behind reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Fraizer Campbell put the Eagles in front before second-half goals from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana earned the Reds a 2-1 win.
Pardew is likely to stick with debutant Pape Souare at left-back, but could make changes elsewhere with James McArthur likely to return in midfield, with Joel Ward moving to right-back and Martin Kelly dropping out.
Arsenal loanee Yaya Sanogo is ineligible, but former Gunners striker Marouane Chamakh could start in support of Campbell in attack. Dwight Gayle has been used on the wing of late but will make way for Jason Puncheon.
Wilfried Zaha will be on the bench, but captain Mile Jedinak is still nursing an ankle injury and joins Jerome Thomas, Lee Chung-yong and Shola Ameobi on the sidelines, with the latter pair still waiting for their debuts.
Unlike their opponents, holders Arsenal continued their serine progress in the FA Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, with Olivier Giroud's well-taken first-half brace enough to see off the Championship side.
Arsene Wenger is blessed with options to play around the Frenchman, and Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and the fit-again Alexis Sanchez could all start in a midfield capable of intimidating any defence.
With injuries to Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere deeper in midfield, Wenger perhaps has no option but to go attacking and so Francis Coquelin will have a key role to play in marshalling the defence.
Laurent Koscielny may be the only member of the cup back five to retain their place. Gabriel enjoyed a solid bow, but will be replaced by Per Mertesacker, while David Ospina, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal should also return.
Palace:
Form in Premier League: DWWLWD
Form in all competitions: WWLWDL
Possible starting lineup: Speroni; Ward, Hangeland, Dann, Souare; Puncheon, McArthur, Ledley, Bolasie; Chamakh, Campbell
Arsenal:
Form in Premier League: LWWWLW
Form in all competitions: WWWLWW
Possible starting lineup: Ospina; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck; Giroud
Sports Mole says: 1-1
Joe Fish
