Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is hopeful key duo James Milner and Emile Heskey will be fit to face Chelsea this weekend.
Both missed out on Wednesday's 1-1 home draw against CSKA Moscow in the Uefa Cup with niggling injuries.
Heskey is currently struggling with the Achilles injury sustained in England's 2-0 defeat to Spain while a thigh strain curtailed Milner's involvement.
However, O'Neill feels the duo benefited from sitting out the Russian clash and that they may have recovered in time for Saturday's crucial clash against Chelsea.
"[Milner] had a better chance of making it for Saturday if he missed out tonight," said O'Neil. "Of course James wants to play all the time.
"I took the doctor's advice on that. Those are the type of things that we have to cope with.
"[Heskey] is improving. We'll have to see. We'll have a better idea tomorrow or Friday."
Villa were given the run-around when the sides met at Stamford Bridge earlier this season and O'Neil is surprised Luiz Felipe Scolari has lost his job since the meeting.
"It's only a few months ago that Chelsea were the only side to have beaten us very well," he continued.
"Anyone coming away that day would be surprised that they would have had a change of manager this time around."
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