Aston Villa and Crystal Palace face off in the first FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, with both clubs looking to end long waits to lift the famous trophy.
Villa last won the competition in 1957, while Palace have never won a major trophy.
Unai Emery’s men are hoping they can cap an outstanding season that has seen Villa reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a trophy and qualification for a return to Europe’s premier competition next season.
They seemingly face an uphill climb for the latter ambition, and Villa will be without one of their standouts of the second half of the season at Wembley.
Aston Villa team news
The headline for Villa is the absence of on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, whose future is the subject of much speculation amid his outstanding spell at Villa Park.
Villa have a £40million option to make his deal permanent, but they will be without Rashford’s services for the biggest game of Villa’s season so far owing to a knock.
Ollie Watkins takes Rashford’s place in the starting XI as part of three changes from the side that lost 2-1 at Manchester City in midweek.
Marco Asensio and John McGinn also come into the team in place of Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Rogers, Asensio, McGinn, Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Mings, Maatsen, Garcia, Barkley, Onana, Bailey, Malen, Ramsey
Crystal Palace team news
Jean Philippe-Mateta is rewarded for his stunning goal against Arsenal in midweek as he returns to the starting XI.
The Frenchman is joined by defender Chris Richards, who is back in the team following suspension.
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Subs: Turner, Ward, Lerma, Nketiah, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Chilwell, Devenny.
