Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is looking to give Guus Hiddink an uncomfortable introduction to the Premier League when the Dutchman begins his job of rejuvenating an ailing Chelsea today.
Villa's impressive form allowed them to move ahead of Chelsea and into third place, leading to Luiz Felipe Scolari being fired last week after just seven months in charge.
O'Neill seemed surprised that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich dumped Scolari in favour of Hiddink, who will combine coaching Russia with the Blues until the end of the season.
"It is incredibly hard," O'Neill said on Thursday. "I think there might be a reason for doing it on a short-term basis, not overall. I think it would be very hard to combine an international management role with one in the Premier League over the fullness of time.
"I'm not sure that's what they are looking at. Eventually, when you lose a game or two, someone will accuse you of not spending enough time in one particular camp. I think it is exceptionally difficult."
Villa are unbeaten in the Premier League since November and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson now sees the team as a bigger threat than Chelsea.
"I shall be keeping a wary eye on Aston Villa," Ferguson said.
United's 3-0 win over Fulham on Wednesday lifted the defending champions to 59 points with 13 matches to go. Liverpool are second with 54 points, followed by Aston Villa with 51 and Chelsea with 49.
Already hailed as "untouchable" by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, United can extend its unbeaten run to 15 matches against relegation-threatened Blackburn today.
"We have been on an unbelievable run," United striker Wayne Rooney said after marking his return with a goal in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Fulham. "I have missed seven games and we have won the lot. You think 'How am I going to get back into this team?' It is a dream to be involved. It just gets better with each game."
Another victory at Old Trafford would pile the pressure on second-place Liverpool before they host Manchester City tomorrow.
With Arsenal five points adrift of Chelsea, Wenger needs a victory over Sunderland today to keep the four Champions League spots in sight.
Arsenal looked to have turned a corner in their season with an impressive FA Cup rout of Cardiff. But Eduardo da Silva, who returned from a year out with two goals in the 4-0 win, was ruled out for two weeks because of a hamstring injury.
West Ham, who have their sights fixed on Europa League qualification, go to Bolton today looking to return to winning ways after Man United snapped their six-game unbeaten streak last weekend.
Stoke and Portsmouth, both hovering above the relegation zone, meet at the Britannia Stadium today, when Middlesbrough host Wigan.
Everton, who signed 17-year-old midfielder Jack Rodwell to a new five-year contract on Thursday, go to Newcastle tomorrow,, when last-place West Bromwich Albion are at Fulham.
Hull, rocked by the loss of record signing Jimmy Bullard for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage, face Tottenham on Monday.