Chelsea missing Cole and Terry for Cardiff cup clash

The FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend as the Premier League takes a well-earned break. That means that Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool can all put their feet up and relax, or wonder what could have been, while watching the remaining 16 teams fight for a place in the quarter finals.

Cardiff's visit to Chelsea on Saturday catches the eye. On paper it would seem straightforward for the holders Chelsea, but Cardiff made it all the way to the final in 2008 and Chelsea are missing key personnel.

Chelsea and England were dealt a blow on Thursday when it was revealed that Ashley Cole will be out for three months with a broken ankle - putting his fitness for the World Cup in doubt. Also absent will be John Terry who has been given time off to sort out his troubled private life.

Chelsea have plenty of cover available, Yuri Zhirkov could stand in for Cole and £13m bit-part player Paulo Ferreira may get a run-out.

The two teams have not met in any competition since 1986, when it was Cardiff who emerged victorious in the League Cup, and their last league meeting was in the second tier in 1983, when Chelsea won at Stamford Bridge.

The two clubs are at different ends of the financial spectrum these days. While Chelsea can splash millions on any player they please, Cardiff narrowly avoided a winding-up order when they appeared in court over unpaid tax this week. For the Bluebirds this high-profile clash with the Premier League leaders is a God-send.

There should be another tasty encounter at St Mary's where Southampton take on their bitter local rivals Portsmouth. The Saints may be two divisions below Pompey, but there is little doubt which of these two teams will be the more confident. Southampton are unbeaten in eight and are climbing the Division One table despite a 10-point penalty for going into administration last season.

This term it is Pompey who are in the financial mire. Their fall from grace since winning the cup in 2008 has been spectacular and to make matters worse the Premier League's bottom team have never beaten their south coast neighbours in the FA Cup.

Pompey will be without Ricardo Rocha after his sending off on Wednesday.

If Roberto Mancini wants to cap his first season in English football with Manchester City's first trophy since 1976 then he must win the FA Cup. His side entertain in-form Stoke on Saturday in what could be an exciting game.

Stoke knocked Arsenal out in the last round and are unbeaten in seven, City on the other hand have struggled since their heart-breaking loss to Manchester United in the League Cup. However, City's home record is impressive while Stoke are not so good on the road.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Derby of the Championship, who are on good form and beat Newcastle last time out, entertain Birmingham. Alex McLeish's side have been a revelation this season but have struggled for goals, so Derby will be hoping for at least a draw.

Two former Premier League clubs in Reading and West Brom will also fight it out for a place in the last eight on Saturday.

Sunday's big game is an all Premier League affair as Owen Coyle's Bolton play host to Spurs. Harry Redknapp won the cup with Portsmouth and has designs on the trophy again this season and will play his best team. Bolton on the other hand face a battle for survival. Results have not gone their way since the arrival of manager Coyle and he may be tempted to keep his powder dry for the league.

Yet another club in financial trouble are Crystal Palace but they are hoping for a full house for the visit of Aston Villa on Sunday, and the proceeds would come in very handy at Selhurst Park. The chances of an upset are slim however.

Sunday's other game sees Fulham welcoming Notts County to Craven Cottage. The Notts County revolution under Sven Goran Eriksson has come to an abrupt end and the Swede reigned as director of football this week after the cash-strapped club was taken over by former Lincoln City chairman Ray Trew. He paid £1, and inherits debts of £1.5m.

And the likelihood of his new charges beating Fulham would appear minimal. ·