The 119th derby match in all competitions between these clubs and the incentive for Birmingham could hardly be greater. A victory would not only lift them above Aston Villa in the league table but also bring to an end a humiliating run of six straight defeats at the hands of their local rivals. Marc Albrighton is suspended for Villa, meaning that Ashley Young is likely to revert to the flank. Birmingham are boosted by Craig Gardner's return from a three-match ban, the midfielder one of three former Villa players in Alex McLeish's squad.  Stuart James

Venue Villa Park, Sunday midday

Tickets £25-45 (0800 612 0970)

Last season Aston Villa 1 Birmingham 0

Referee H Webb

This season's matches 6 Y23, R0, 3.83 cards per game

Odds Aston Villa 13-15 Birmingham 4-1 Draw 13-5

Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic Aston VillaSubs from Guzan, Delfouneso, Beye, Cuéllar, Bannan, Carew, Clark, Lichaj, Baker, Lowry

Doubtful Beye (ankle), Carew (virus), L Young (match fitness)

Injured Agbonlahor (groin, 21 Nov), Delph (knee, Jan), Petrov (knee, Jan), Weimann (ankle, Jan)

Suspended Albrighton (one match)

Form guide LDLWDL

Disciplinary record Y19 R0

Leading scorer Downing 3

Birmingham  Subs from Taylor, Murphy, Bowyer, Derbyshire, Jiranek, Parnaby, Phillips, Vallès, O'Connor, Míchel, Beausejour, Jerome, Redmond

Doubtful Beausejour (knee), Jerome (ankle)

Injured McFadden (knee, Feb)

Suspended None

Form guide WLLDLD

Disciplinary record Y15 R1

Leading scorer Gardner 3

Match pointers•     Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored in three of the last four derbies with Birmingham and each time in the last 15 minutes of the game

• Birmingham were unbeaten in their first six Premier League fixtures against Villa but have now lost the last six in a row

• No team has scored fewer second-half goals than Villa this season (two)

• Cameron Jerome has been caught offside more times (14) than any other player

• Villa have gone 254 minutes without scoring a goal in the top flight