Aston Villa will be looking to avoid a surprise defeat in the FA Cup when they play against Preston at Deepdale in the quarter-finals coming Sunday.
The Villans, who are also competing for success in the Champions League this season, last met North End in the Championship in December 2018, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
Team news
Preston will be missing Sam Greenwood and Ryan Ledson due to suspension, while Ryan Porteous is ineligible to play and Kaine Kesler-Hayden cannot face his parent club.
Jack Whatmough is set to be out for the rest of the season because of a calf injury, and there are doubts about the fitness of Ali McCann, Brad Potts, and Milutin Osmajic.
Ross Barkley is likely to be absent for Villa due to a knee issue, but Ollie Watkins has returned to training after a minor injury before the international break and is expected to start.
Defender Axel Disasi, on loan from Chelsea, is unavailable for the match, meaning Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings are likely to play as the center-back pairing.
The stats
Preston, a Championship team, are the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Cup and the only team in the quarter-finals not from the Premier League.
North End, currently 14th in the Championship, have not lost a game at home in their last 15 matches across all competitions.
All three of Preston's FA Cup matches this season have been held at Deepdale, where they won against Charlton (2-1), Wycombe (on penalties), and Burnley (3-0).
Villa are seeking their fifth consecutive victory in all competitions, having defeated Cardiff in the FA Cup, Club Brugge in the Champions League, and Brentford in the Premier League.
The Villans are aiming to win the FA Cup for the first time since 1957 and the eighth time overall, while Preston are aiming to win the trophy for the first time since 1938.
Prediction
Although Preston's journey to the quarter-finals has been impressive, their opponents have been relatively weaker with matches against Charlton, Wycombe, and Burnley.
A clash with Premier League side Villa poses a tougher test, and despite Preston's strong home form, they are likely to fall short in their bid for a semi-final spot.
Villa, managed by Unai Emery, have been in good form recently, losing only one of their last nine games in all competitions and securing a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals during that period.
Marco Asensio has been a key player in Villa's recent success, scoring seven goals in his last five games.
The 29-year-old scored twice in the last match against Brugge, as he did in the FA Cup fifth-round victory over Cardiff, making him a strong candidate to score in the upcoming match.