Aston Villa host Newcastle at Villa Park tonight as the hosts look to pull clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
Dean Smith’s side sit just one point above 18th-placed Norwich, after they beat Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
A win would see Villa move level on points with Everton but climb ahead of them courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Newcastle sit 14th, meanwhile, and Steve Bruce is hoping to oversee a victory that would carry them into the top half.
The Magpies would move above Manchester United and Tottenham with three points, having won both of their last two matches against West Ham and Bournemouth.
But the north east side have been warned about the return of Villa captain Jack Grealish, who is eager to make a point after continuing to miss out on Gareth Southgate’s England squads.
“The fact he has not been called up, he can’t control that,” Smith said.
“We’ve spoken about that at length. All he can control is to keep performing and keep putting pressure on those who make those decisions.
“We’ve had three international periods now [this season] and each time there has been speculation about him getting in there and he hasn’t, so the message has been ‘Just keep playing’.
“You saw in October he was nominated for Player of the Month, such was his form, so all he can do is maintain that. If he does, then he will make the people who make the decisions eventually pick him.
“He’s a top player. I stand with [assistant head coach] John Terry sometimes and we go ‘Wow!’ at some of the things he does.
“When top players are playing you have a better chance of winning, when they don’t, you’ve less chance. It’s the same with any top player at any club.”
Bruce returns to Villa Park having previously managed the Midlands club for two years.
His time there ended disappointingly 12 months ago, as he was sacked just four months after losing the Championship play-off final to Fulham.
And his relationship with Villa fans soured so severely that a cabbage was thrown at the manager during a draw with Preston.
Reflecting on his exit, Bruce said: “The fans can throw some things, but a cabbage?
“I went the next day so I didn’t have time to get angry. It was one of the most unsavoury times of my career.”
And Smith has also spoken out about it, declaring: “I thought it was a disgrace.
“I have an awful lot of respect for what he has done in management but, more importantly, for how he is as a man.”
But Bruce is hoping Newcastle can strike a blow against the Villans.
Of the improved mood at St James’ Park, he explained: “The difference in a couple of weeks and a couple of wins and what it does, especially to a club like ours, is remarkable.
“The players are bouncing around the place, training is as lively as it has ever been and they’re all champing at the bit.
“We’ve picked up one or two knocks but we’ve got one or two getting back fit so let’s hope we can keep the run going.”
Confirmed line ups
Aston Villa starting XI: Heaton, Guilbert, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Douglas Luiz, Hourihane, McGinnl, El Ghazi, Wesley, Grealish.
Newcastle starting XI: Dubravka, Yedlin, Clark, Fernandez, Dummett, Willems, Shelvey, Hayden, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton.
Aston Villa bench: Nyland, Lansbury, Nakamba, Trezeguet, Kodjia, Elmohamady, Hause.
Newcastle bench: Darlow, Schar, Krafth, M. Longstaff, Carroll, Gayle, Atsu.
Referee: Lee Mason