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| This could be the defining weekend of the season |
However, there are many others who are desperate for points, looking for either the title, European qualification or survival, and this makes for an exciting end to the season.
As far as the relegation battle is concerned, will it be a benefit for those teams facing outfits with nothing to play for or a hindrance?
We are about to find out as teams reach the last chance saloon.
Here are my previews and predictions for this weekend's Premier League action.
Blackburn v Bolton (1500 Saturday)
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| Stuart Holden's last-gasp winner saw Bolton beat Blackburn 2-1 in December |
They are just one point above the drop zone now after a run of no wins in 10, and could really do with a win here as their remaining games are a home fixture against Manchester United and tricky away games at relegation rivals Wolves and West Brom.
They did perform well on Monday and deserved something out of their game with Manchester City, but the fact is they lost it and nothing but wins will do for them at this stage.
Rovers have been on the slide since sacking Sam Allardyce in December and Steve Kean needs survival to stand any chance of keeping his job for next season.
Bolton have had a terrific first full season under Owen Coyle and recovered from their FA Cup semi-final thrashing by beating Arsenal last week.
However, their 3-0 loss at Fulham in midweek was another disappointment so Coyle will have his team up for this local derby.
They are sitting in eighth, with no danger of going down and little chance of European qualification, but a top-seven finish, or even a top-half finish, would be a fantastic achievement and should be enough motivation to see them have a strong finish to the season.
This should be a tight affair with not many goals, but Blackburn are a team playing with no confidence and that could see them lose a game they need so desperately to win.
Prediction: 0-1
Blackpool v Stoke (1500 Saturday)
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| DJ Campbell's goal saw Blackpool win 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium in the reverse fixture |
They still have to go to Manchester United and Tottenham so it is beginning to look like this game is a must-win.
Only goal difference separates them from the bottom three and they need to recapture some of their early-season form to stand any chance of staying up.
They were much-improved in last Saturday's draw with Newcastle and perhaps deserved to win, but they need to grind out at least one win or they will be going back to the Championship.
Stoke were magnificent in their 3-0 midweek win over Wolves and are in great league form, but the loss of Matthew Etherington to injury will be a major blow to them.
That win more or less made them safe, although Tony Pulis will be trying to make sure they do not think of the FA Cup final yet.
If they do take their eye off the ball there will be no better opportunity for Blackpool to pick up three points.
This is a game the Seasiders will have been earmarking as winnable for quite some time now and their desire may well be enough to see them to a crucial victory.
Prediction: 2-1
Sunderland v Fulham (1500 Saturday)
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| The sides drew 0-0 at Craven Cottage in December |
They were on a horrible run of form prior to that and were being sucked into the relegation battle, so that win was absolutely crucial.
They will go into this game with no recognised strikers though, after a number of injuries, and will struggle to score goals between now and the end of the season.
Bruce will desperately want a top-half finish as reward for their excellent early-season form and they must win this game to stand any real chance of doing that.
Fulham have hit some good form recently, with their midweek win over Bolton putting them into ninth, but their away form is still terrible and they will need to improve this going forward.
They have won just once away from home in 35 attempts and so it is something of a miracle they are not right in the relegation mire.
Mark Hughes' side have done well at home and that is the sole reason they are not in trouble.
An away victory is never likely for Fulham but Sunderland's striker shortage should see them pick up something at the Stadium of Light.
Prediction: 0-0
West Brom v Aston Villa (1500 Saturday)
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| Emile Heskey was among the goalscorers in Villa's 2-1 win in the reverse fixture |
They are now all but safe and that is a terrific achievement for a club which normally goes down straight after winning promotion.
They are one of a clutch of clubs who will be eyeing a top-half finish and a win here would give them a great chance of doing just that.
Villa are also one of those clubs looking for a top-half finish but although they are no longer involved in a relegation battle, they are still not convincing.
With the players they have at their disposal, they should be challenging for European qualification so this season will go down as one of failure.
Gerard Houiller is now out of hospital but it is unclear whether he will be well enough to continue as manager, so the players should be motivated to win games in honour of him.
The pressure is off both of these sides so that should make for an entertaining game with a good derby-day atmosphere.
But West Brom's home advantage should be enough to see them prevail over the Villans.
Prediction: 2-1
Wigan v Everton (1500 Saturday)
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| The sides drew 0-0 at Goodison Park earlier this season |
They need to start winning games now because all of a sudden there are only four games left and time is running out for them to launch a bid for survival.
Only Blackpool have a poorer home record than the Latics but this should be a real opportunity for them to put that right.
Everton are in great form and the pressure is off them now, as it always seems to be at this stage of the season.
It will be difficult for Wigan to win here but they could have had worse fixtures as Everton realistically have very little to play for.
David Moyes always seems to get the best out of his players towards the end of the season though so Wigan will need to be right up for this one.
The Latics are the most inconsistent side in the division and you never know which side is going to turn up, but they desperately need a performance here.
They just don't seem good enough though and they could be set for another crushing defeat.
Prediction: 0-2
Chelsea v Tottenham (1730 Saturday)
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| Didier Drogba's penalty miss handed Tottenham a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture |
They are in the best form of anybody in the Premier League but one slip up and the title will be United's.
It is still very unlikely they will win the league but with the likes of Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba in form, they have to be given some consideration.
Fernando Torres finally broke his duck last weekend but he has still got a long way to go to reclaim his form and this game could be the perfect chance for him to do that.
Tottenham are losing ground in the race for fourth place and a defeat here could all but hand that position to Manchester City.
They have a very bad record at Stamford Bridge and will struggle to get anything from this game, as their recent form has been well below standard.
Harry Redknapp has done a fantastic job at White Hart Lane but missing out on the Champions League this season would be a massive blow to their future.
They look incapable of beating the top sides away from home at the moment and it is hard to see them picking up anything here.
Prediction: 2-0
Birmingham v Wolves (1200 Sunday)
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| Stephen Hunt's goal gave Wolves a 1-0 victory over Birmingham at Molineux |
Birmingham are probably one win away from survival but their 5-0 loss at Liverpool last weekend will take some recovering from.
They are four points clear of the bottom three, which gives them some breathing space, but a defeat here would put them right in the relegation battle.
It would be terrible for them to go down this season after the joy of their Carling Cup triumph but they should have too much to go down.
Wolves are in terrible form at the moment, a run coinciding with Kevin Doyle's injury, and are even more desperate for the points.
Their 3-0 loss at Stoke in midweek was a body-blow as Mick McCarthy had earmarked that game as winnable.
This is the worst they have played all season and they must halt this run now before their task becomes too big.
Although Wolves have the worst away record in the Premier League, I can see them picking up three vital points here.
Prediction: 0-1
Liverpool v Newcastle (1200 Sunday)
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| Andy Carroll scored against current club Liverpool in Newcastle's 3-1 win in December |
Dalglish has worked wonders since taking over from Roy Hodgson in January and it is a no-brainer for the owners to give him the job on a full-time basis.
Should he be fit for this game, it will all be about Andy Carroll.
He left his beloved Newcastle for Anfield in January and could be in for a hostile reception from the travelling Toon Army.
If he plays, he will cause the Newcastle defence no end of problems so Alan Pardew will be praying he doesn't make it.
Pardew has done a good job to guide Newcastle to safety and will now be looking for a strong end to the season to secure a top-half finish.
They need new signings in the summer if they are to push on though, with the striking department extremely light.
They will have their work cut out at Anfield and, with this being my latest attempt to see Newcastle win away from home, a Newcastle victory is extremely unlikely.
Prediction: 2-0
Arsenal v Manchester United (1405 Sunday)
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| Park Ji-Sung's goal gave Man Utd a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford |
Their last three games, where they somehow threw away wins against Liverpool and Tottenham and conceded a last-minute losing goal at Bolton, have been disastrous.
They are now in third place and under pressure from Manchester City in fourth place, which is a real sign of how bad their form has been recently.
They have won just one of their last seven league games and that is relegation form, never mind title-winning.
Man Utd will be buzzing after their demolition of Schalke in midweek and their experience will be crucial for the remainder of this season.
This should have been a potentially title-deciding game but Sir Alex Ferguson knows just one win against Arsenal or Chelsea should be enough to see them win the title.
They have only won five times away from home in the league this season though and with the pressure being off Arsenal it should make for an entertaining game.
Arsenal may well pull off a victory here, but sadly it will be all too late.
Prediction: 2-1
Manchester City v West Ham (1610 Sunday)
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| Adam Johnson was among the scorers as Man City won 3-1 at Upton Park in December |
Champions League qualification is within touching distance for them now and it is hard to see them missing out now.
Mancini should give his side attacking freedom in this game as West Ham are poor at the back, but it seems unlikely he will change his principles at this stage of the season.
Edin Dzeko's first Premier League goal last weekend could spell trouble for the Hammers' defence as he will now have confidence and, as he proved in the Bundesliga, he is very dangerous when on-form.
West Ham's survival chances will be determined by their home games so anything they get here will be a bonus.
They have lost their last four league games though and so will be desperate to pick something up.
They are rock-bottom of the table and a defeat here could see them start to be cast adrift at the bottom, so the writing could be on the wall for them now.
This is unlikely to be a free-flowing game but it seems extremely unlikely City will slip up here.
Prediction: 2-0
The Premier League picture will become a whole lot clearer once this weekend is over.
A Manchester United win at Arsenal would all but seal the title as this game is one of only two major hurdles they need to overcome.
And any side near the bottom of the table who picks up a win will be very confident of staying up as for most of them, one win may well be enough.
There are some high-pressure games going on this weekend and it makes for another exciting few days.
For many teams, the message is simple: it's now or never.
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