This weekend could be a pivotal point in the desperate battle against relegation from the Premier League, and especially for three teams that have been in freefall in recent weeks.
Eight of the bottom 10 meet this weekend, with Bolton (14th) hosting Tottenham (13th), Fulham (11th) at home to Portsmouth (15th), Middlesbrough (18th) versus Blackburn (17th) and Newcastle (16th) at home to Sunderland (12th).
There is all to play for, with just five points separating those teams, and the pressure is particularly on Hull, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, who are slipping further into the mire with each passing week.
Now is the time for the struggling teams to find some form because, after several weeks when there has been little to choose between the sides in the bottom half of the table, a few gaps are starting to appear.
Wigan and West Ham are now firmly ensconced in the top half of the table, 11 points clear of the drop zone, and Manchester City are on the up too after Wednesday's 2-1 home win over Newcastle made it 10 points out of the last 12.
Just below mid-table, Fulham will be concerned about their away form but have two games in hand (one of which, admittedly, is away to Manchester United), while Sunderland are another team on a mini-revival - their only defeats in their last eight league games have been against Manchester United, Aston Villa and Everton.
The teams on a downward spiral are Middlesbrough, Stoke, Hull, Bolton and Portsmouth, all of whom have averaged less than a point per game over the last eight league games.