Aston Villa travel to moneybags Manchester City in FA Cup

After seeing their city rivals Birmingham City lift the Carling Cup, now Aston Villa have their eyes on a trophy, this time in the FA Cup.

Gerard Houllier's team face Manchester City in their FA Cup fifth round clash, with the winner earning a sixth round tie with Reading on Sunday March 13th.

Villa have already beaten Sheffield United and Blackburn in the FA Cup so far this season and come into the game on the back of some good form, but they are seen as 5/1 outsiders with bookmakers' to beat City.

They have lost only one of nine games in all competition and recorded an impressive 4-1 win over Blackburn in the Premier League at the weekend.

That game saw the side climb further away from the Premier League relegation places and it was inspired by the attacking threat provided by the flying wingers in the shape of newly appointed captain Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.

England squad members Darren Bent, Young, Downing and Kyle Walker have all been in impressive form in recent weeks, while young winger Marc Albrighton (14/1 to be first goal scorer) has also been dazzling and caused no end of problems to a certain ex-Real Madrid and Spain defender in Michel Salgado.

Indeed it was Bent who scored on his debut to give Villa a 1-0 win over City back in January, and the visitors could take some confidence from that recent victory.

Houllier will be without the defensive duo of Carlos Cuellar and James Collins for the FA Cup clash with City, meaning young centre back Ciaran Clark will have to step up against the multi-million pound attacking line-up the hosts can boast.

Elsewhere, Nathan Baker has concussion and will miss out, meaning long-term injury victim Fabian Delph comes into the equation. January signing Jean Makoun is suspended so will miss the game.

Watching Birmingham fans celebrate winning the Carling Cup at the weekend must have irked a number of Villa fans, but Houllier remains confident Villa could lift the FA Cup and make it a season to remember for the 'Second City''

"It would be fantastic if we won the FA Cup because it would mean two cups in the same city," said the boss.

"We will win things, I know that for sure. It is not the fact our rivals have won something that is going to change my mind about what we are doing here.

"The FA Cup is an opportunity but it is not the easiest of the games against Man City."

City boss Roberto Mancini will give late fitness tests to David Silva and Micah Richards, but Vincent Kompany, Nigel de Jong, Adam Johnson and keeper Shay Given are all definitely out.

The hosts are unbeaten in the last four games and have lost only one of eight, and bookies have them at 4/6 to win this clash. They are going to be a tough side to beat and could be out for revenge after the loss at Villa Park only a few weeks ago.