Newcastle United and Aston Villa will face off in an intriguing-looking Premier League clash at St James' Park on Sunday afternoon.
Eddie Howe's side saw their three-game winning run in the league come to a halt last weekend when playing out a drab 0-0 draw away at Wolves.
That stalemate, combined with other results, leaves the Magpies 8th in the table heading into the latest round of top-flight action.
Newcastle did, however, bounce back at the first time of asking with a 3-0 Champions League victory over PSV on Wednesday night.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, suffered their first home defeat since August when losing 1-0 to Everton last Sunday.
Like Newcastle, Unai Emery's side also returned to winning ways in Europe earlier this week, securing a 1-0 win away at Fenerbahce, in a game that brought up two of my three selections.
How the bookies view it: Toon Army to triumph.
Newcastle, who have been strong at St James' Park this season, come into their latest home match as 19/20 favourites with bet365.
Despite winning four of their last six Premier League away matches, Aston Villa are as big as 13/5 on bet365 to emerge from St James' Park victorious, while a share of the spoils has been priced up at 27/10 with the same firm.
Head to head: History favours the hosts
Newcastle hold the historical edge over Aston Villa, winning 76 of their 176 meetings, with Villa victorious 60 times and 40 matches ending in draws.
This season's reverse fixture finished goalless, and a repeat on Sunday can be backed at 14/1 on bet365.
Players to watch: Watch out for Wissa
Having scored one goal and set up another during Newcastle's 3-0 win over PSV on Wednesday night, Yoane Wissa offers value to register another goal involvement here at 20/21 on bet365.
Aston Villa's Matty Cash could have his hands full with Anthony Gordon on Sunday, making the right-back a strong contender to be booked at 5/2 with PaddyPower.
Predicted line-ups
Newcastle could soon welcome back Dan Burn and William Osula, but Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Jacob Murphy and Valentino Livramento are all still sidelined.
As for Aston Villa, they will be short in midfield with Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Ross Barkley all ruled out, while Emiliano Martinez’s availability in goal is uncertain.
Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Tonali, Joelinton; Barnes, Wissa, Gordon
Aston Villa: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Tielemans, Bogarde; Sancho, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins
Anything else catch the eye?
Backing both teams to score alongside both teams to receive a card will engineer an even-money (bet 365) bet builder that catches the eye.
This would have been the right formula in four of Newcastle's last five Premier League assignments at St James' Park.
The case for siding with this selection becomes even stronger when you factor in that it would have been profitable in four of Villa’s last five top-flight away fixtures.
GambleAware