FA Cup Weekend Preview

FA Cup action continues this weekend with two fourth-round replays and six fifth-round matches. Here is a quick preview of each game.

Fourth-Round Replays

Everton @ Chelsea, Saturday, 7:30 am

After a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park three weeks ago, Chelsea is favored because the match is being played at Stamford Bridge. The rematch of the 2009 FA Cup Final has some intrigue with the team news that has already been released by both sides.

Everton's only real goal-scoring threat of the past few weeks, Louis Saha, is out with a hamstring strain, and midfielder Jack Rodwell may not make the squad either due to injury.

For Chelsea, Didier Drogba will be in the starting 11 after being on the bench in the Blues' 0-0 draw with Fulham over the weekend. The decision on who will accompany the Ivorian is tricky for manager Carlo Ancelotti with Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres and Salomon Kalou as options to partner Drogba.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-1

Notts County @ Manchester City, Sunday, 9:00 am

Three weeks ago at Meadow Lane, new signing Edin Dzeko saved Manchester City from defeat with his late goal to draw 1-1 and send the tie back to the City of Manchester Stadium.

Notts County, managed by former Blackburn boss Paul Ince, have taken points from six of their eight games in the new year in League One and will look to pull off the upset against a City side that have shown signs of weakness throughout the season.

City, who are coming off a draw in the Europa League to Aris and a loss in the Manchester derby in the past week, will look to rebound. Expect Roberto Mancini to put Carlos Tevez up front to start, but the real key will be David Silva, if he plays, who is one of the most explosive wingers in the Premier League.

Prediction: Manchester City 2-0

Fifth-Round Matches

Sheffield Wednesday @ Birmingham, Saturday, 10:00 am

Birmingham will look to continue their Cup success. They have already reached the Carling Cup Final this season at home as they take on a Wednesday side that have not won in their last six League One games, with only two points in the span coming from draws.

When the Owls have been losing games in League One, they have lost big, especially in the last month, being on the losing end of 5-3, 4-0 and 3-0 results. If they keep the game close and are able to score at the fortress that is St Andrew's Stadium, they stand a chance.

Birmingham have gotten 20 of their 30 points in the Premier League at home, where they will host the match on Saturday. The Blues have responded well after being thwarted by Manchester United 5-0 in late January, as they pulled off a three-game winning streak before losing to Newcastle on Tuesday. One thing that could hurt the Blues is if they are looking ahead to Wembley in eight days, but expect Alex McLeish to have his club focused.

Prediction: Birmingham 3-2

Brighton @ Stoke City, Saturday, 10:00 am

Stoke have been flying under the radar in the middle of the Premier League table all season, while Brighton are leading League One and look to be on the track for promotion to the Championship.

Brighton have only lost once since the calendar turned to 2011, including FA Cup wins over Portsmouth and Watford, and now they have been rewarded with a chance to upset a Premier League club. The Seagulls do stand a good chance at the Brittania Stadium, as they are in good form and know how to score goals; they are the club that has most potential to win over a Premier League club this weekend.

Stoke are sitting in the middle of the Premier League table in 10th, and Tony Pulis is guiding the club towards a finish in the top half in their third season in the top flight. The key for Pulis and company has always been the stout defense led by Robert Huth, and that will be the key to the match Saturday, which has to be low-scoring for the Potters to have a chance.

Prediction: Brighton 1-0

Crawley Town @ Manchester United, Saturday, 12:15 pm

This is the ultimate David vs. Goliath battle that fans of the FA Cup love. Crawley, in the fifth tier of English football, travel to Old Trafford to take on the top team in the Premier League this season.

Crawley have taken down Football League sides Swindon, Derby and Torquay to earn their match with the Premier League giants. The Red Devils are the first side since Kidderminster in 1994 to be a non-league side to reach the fifth round. If they pull off the upset, it will go down in FA Cup and club history as one of the most memorable wins for a non-league club.

On the other hand, Manchester United are flying high after beating rivals Manchester City last weekend and separating themselves further from their title rivals, Arsenal and City. Wayne Rooney seems to be back to his goal-scoring ways, and his bicycle kick winner that everyone is still talking about from the Manchester derby is a statement that he is back.

United may rest some players because of their Champions League matchup with Marseille on Wednesday, but Sir Alex Ferguson will still put a squad out on the pitch that is capable of taking care of business.

Prediction: Manchester United 3-0

Bolton @ Fulham, Sunday, 10:00 am

The last time an FA Cup match between two EPL teams occurred at Craven Cottage, Fulham thrashed Tottenham by a 4-0 margin. The result could be the same for a club that is finally finding its stride in the Premier League after a sluggish start to the season. Since the win over Spurs, the Cottagers have taken five points from three games in the Premier League, and their momentum could carry them into a deep cup run this season yet again.

Bolton have been in the top half of the EPL table all season and look to be staying there for the rest of the season. After defeating Wigan in the fourth-round replay on Wednesday, Owen Coyle and company will travel to London with plenty of goal-scoring threats.

The Trotters could have possibly made the best signing in January by taking Daniel Sturridge on loan from Chelsea, and the young Englishman has scored three goals in three games to accompany the great season Johan Elmander is having up front with nine goals.

Prediction: Bolton 2-0

Arsenal @ Leyton Orient, Sunday, 11:30 am

Matchroom Stadium will be packed in this matchup of London clubs separated by almost 50 places in the Football League.

Arsenal are flying high after taking down Barcelona in the Champions League this weekend at home, and having already reached the Carling Cup final, the Gunners are still in contention for a treble with the Premier League title being almost out of reach. Arsene Wenger's club have a pretty easy road to the fifth round by beating lower-level sides Leeds United and Huddersfield, and they will look to cruise on to the sixth round by beating Orient.

Leyton Orient have not lost since New Year's Day, when they lost to League One leaders Brighton. Five wins and three draws later, they are sitting in the middle of the League One table in 10th place. During the streak, the O's have taken down Championship sides Norwich and Swansea in the past two rounds of the FA Cup.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-1

Burnley @ West Ham, Monday, 3:00 pm

Burnley are sitting eighth in the Championship table after being relegated last season from the Premier League. They have beaten lower sides Port Vale and Burton Albion in the past two rounds, and they, like the other lower-level clubs in this round, get their first shot at a Premier League opponent in the fifth round.

West Ham have been hard to read, going from a team gaining momentum to come out of the relegation zone to then dropping to a new low the next week and rumors of Avram Grant's sacking coming up again.

With the Hammers reaching the Carling Cup semifinals, those rumors have gone away for now, but they are still bogged down in the relegation battle, and things are not looking too good. Another long Cup run could give fans something to celebrate in this tough season for the club.

Prediction: Burnley 1-0

The other fifth-round ties to be played on March 1st and 2nd are:

Reading @ Chelsea/Everton winner, March 1st

Aston Villa @ Manchester City/Notts County, March 2nd