The race for the 2009/10 Premier League title looks set to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory, with a number of clubs harbouring realistic ambitions of taking the crown.
The smart money, though, would appear to be on either Manchester United or Chelsea continuing their recent dominance of English football's top prize.
Between them, the Red Devils and the Blues have ended the season in pole position in each of the last five seasons.
Chelsea enjoyed back-to-back triumphs under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, while United have now taken the prize three years on the bounce.
With that in mind, this season's sprint to the finish could be decided by results when these two heavyweights go head-to-head.
Forget David Haye against Nikolai Valuev in Nuremberg, the sporting world will be setting their sights on Stamford Bridge this weekend when United roll into the capital.
The Community Shield back in August whet the appetite for what is come, as Chelsea took the first piece of silverware of the season with a penalty shootout success after 120 minutes of action saw the two sides locked together at two apiece.
There promises to be more of the same in West London on Sunday, with precious points up for grabs and neither team wanting to surrender an inch to their arch enemies.
History also dictates that the Sky Sports cameras could be set to capture a titanic tussle between two old foes, with United and Chelsea having produced more than their fair share of memorable encounters during the Premier League era.
Here skysports.com takes a trip down memory lane and looks at some of those fixtures which have captured the imagination.
Chelsea 3 Manchester United 0 - 2006
Chelsea last took the Premier League crown back in 2006, crossing the line in style with a comprehensive victory over their closest challengers. Their 3-0 victory on home soil is perhaps more notable for a broken metatarsal suffered by Wayne Rooney, which threatened to keep him out of the impending World Cup finals, but the manner in which the Blues ruthlessly disposed of United served to underline their domestic dominance at the time. Mourinho's men took just five minutes to break the deadlock, as William Gallas notched a rare goal, and the only surprise there after was how long it took them to build on that lead. In the end a spectacular effort from Joe Cole helped to etch their name on the top-flight trophy, while a typically buccaneering burst and finish from Ricardo Carvalho with 17 minutes remaining put the seal on a memorable stroll in the summer sunshine.
Manchester United 1 Chelsea 3 - 2005
There have not been too many occasions down the years when Manchester United have had to form a guard of honour for the visitors to Old Trafford, but that is precisely what was expected of them when championship-winning Chelsea strolled into the Theatre of Dreams at the end of the 2004/05 season. With the title already wrapped up, the sight of Sir Alex Ferguson's troops welcoming his side to the field will have warmed the cockles of Mourinho. A slow start to the game will have quickly wiped that smile from his face, though, as Ruud van Nistelrooy found the target just seven minutes in. The Blues proved just why they were the finest side in the Premier League that season, though, as they responded in style. Tiago restored parity just 10 minutes after United had edged in front and Eidur Gudjohnsen handed them the lead on 61 minutes. Joe Cole put the seal on a comprehensive success eight minutes from time, securing an impressive success for the Blues behind enemy lines.
Chelsea 2 Manchester United 2 - 2002
When Chelsea and United go head-to-head there tends to be goals aplenty, with only three goalless draws played out during their league meetings over the past 17 years. There have only been five occasions in all competitions during that time in which they have failed to trouble the scorers, over the course of 48 fixtures. One of those which did catch the eye came early on in the 2002/03 campaign, with a four-goal thriller on show at the Bridge. A topsy-turvy encounter ebbed and flowed from one end to the other, with it apparent from the off that defences were in for a difficult evening. Once again it was Gallas who struck first, with only three minutes on the clock. David Beckham hauled the Red Devils level midway through the first half, but Boudewijn Zenden restored the Blues' advantage on the stroke of half-time. United were not to be denied, though, and stole a second equaliser shortly after the hour mark through the ever-reliable Ryan Giggs.
Manchester United 3 Chelsea 3 - 2000
Another early meeting between these old adversaries occurred in September 2000, with both sides seemingly struggling to come to terms with the art of defence. In fairness the attacking talent on display that day was a sight to behold, with the big guns firing on all cylinders at Old Trafford. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink set the tone for what was to follow, with an absolute thunderbolt after eight minutes threatening to remove the net from its hinges. If the Blues thought they were set for a comfortable afternoon they had another thing coming, though, as United hit back in clinical fashion. In times of crisis it is imperative that star men shine, and Paul Scholes, Teddy Sheringham and Beckham - England internationals one and all - had the Red Devils 3-1 up at the break. Chelsea needed something special if they were to avoid leaving empty-handed and Norwegian hit-man Tore Andre Flo came to their rescue as he bagged a second-half brace to claim a share of the spoils.
Manchester United 3 Chelsea 2 - 2000
The appetiser for the autumn thriller at Old Trafford had been dished out just five months previous, as United and Chelsea conjured up five goals between them towards the end of the 1999/00 campaign. The Red Devils ran out as convincing champions that season, blitzing all before them. They were pushed all the way by the Blues during a classic match-up on home soil, but displayed commendable resolve to come out on top. Dwight Yorke got the goal-fest up and running after 10 minutes, but Dan Petrescu and Gianfranco Zola soon silenced the vast majority of those in attendance. United fans need not have feared, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer levelled just three minutes after Zola had turned the tie on its head. Chelsea then saw two points slip through their grasp in the second half as the Red Devils upped the tempo and Yorke plundered a 69th-minute winner.
Chelsea 5 Manchester United 0 - 1999
Manchester United travelled to Stamford Bridge in October 1999 with their Treble-winning heroics still fresh in the mind. As the holders of the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League crowns, they were once again the team to beat in England. As previously mentioned they would go on to retain their domestic title, but they were given an early wake-up call at Stamford Bridge in October as they slipped to a crushing defeat. Often just scoring one against the Red Devils is regarded as quite an achievement, so to score five without reply left Chelsea supporters in dreamland. Gustavo Poyet took less than 60 seconds to breach the United defence, while a second from Chris Sutton after 16 minutes had Sir Alex Ferguson's men on the ropes. Dazed and confused, another effort from Poyet, an own goal from Henning Berg and a late strike from Jody Morris completed a miserable day for the visitors and had the Blues believing their time had finally come - it hadn't.
Chelsea 3 Manchester 5 - 1998
Chelsea's five-star showing against United in 1999 will have helped to erase some of the painful memories still lingering in the back of their mind following a disastrous showing in the FA Cup against the same opponents in January 1998. The Blues looked to be heading towards a painful spanking in front of their own supporters until a late charge some them claw back an ounce of dignity. United, in full flight during what would become an historic season for the club, controlled proceedings from the off and gave a masterclass in attacking football. A brace apiece from Beckham and Andy Cole had United well in control, while Sheringham also got in on the act to hand Ferguson's men a 5-0 lead with 15 minutes remaining. Graeme Le Saux pulled one back for the Blues on 78 minutes and two quickfire strikes from Gianluca Vialli helped to restore some respectability to the final scoreline, but Ruud Gullitt's side still crashed out of the cup at the first hurdle.
Manchester United 2 Chelsea 2 - 1997
Anyone who thinks Manchester United's ability to snatch something from nothing late on is a skill they have only recently mastered needs to think again. The Red Devils have made a habit of bailing themselves out of trouble in the dying moments of games, and have been doing so for longer than most people care to remember. Solskjaer's heroics in the 1999 Champions League final may have confirmed his super-sub status, but any avid follower of United will tell you that was not the first time the baby-faced assassin had rescued the club from the jaws of despair. In fact, the Norwegian striker reduced Chelsea to their knees in September 1997 when he snatched a dramatic point for United at Old Trafford. A Henning Berg own goal - another one - and an effort from former Red Devils favourite Mark Hughes had sandwiched an equaliser from Scholes. The Blues appeared destined to claim maximum points, but Solskjaer broke their hearts four minutes from time when he put the seal on a memorable 2-2 draw.
Chelsea 1 Manchester 4 - 1995
Another glut of goals at Stamford Bridge in October 1995, with the customary early strike and big-name scorers making an appearance. Clashes of this sort often flatter to deceive, with two evenly-matched sides prone to cancelling each other out. That trend appears to be bucked though whenever United and Chelsea go toe-to-toe, with five-goal thrillers the order of the day. On this occasion United burst out of the blocks in customary style and never looked back. Scholes did the damage inside the opening 10 minutes, helping to further his blossoming reputation with a deadly double. Mark Hughes offered Chelsea hope when he handed the Blues a route back into the game 12 minutes from time, but they were unable to build on that platform. Further efforts from Giggs and Brian McClair saw United comfortably home, helping to pave the way for Ferguson's men to reclaim the top-flight crown they had surrendered to Blackburn in May.
Chelsea 2 Manchester United 3 - 1994
Manchester United had soundly beaten Chelsea 4-0 in the 1994 FA Cup final and piled further misery on the Blues in December of the same year when they edged out a nail-biter at the Bridge. Chelsea, although not title contenders at this time, had claimed a memorable double over the Red Devils in the previous campaign, but saw any hopes they had of repeating that feat go up in smoke on Boxing Day. Eddie Newton and John Spencer were on target for the hosts, but their efforts were ultimately in vain. Eric Cantona, Hughes and McClair bagged for United, seeing them to a morale-boosting success. Chelsea were therefore left to contemplate what might have been as they munched their way through leftover Turkey sandwiches - probably.
