Manchester United are the closest in a chasing pack behind league leaders Chelsea, and Sir Alex Ferguson's side will know three points will be an absolute must against Stoke City in Saturday's English Premier League game at Old Trafford.
United, who are four points behind the Blues on 15, have a stellar record against Stoke at the Theatre of Dreams, having not lost a single game in any competition since 1976 - a run of 12 matches, which includes 11 victories. So many will say a victory is pretty much a foregone conclusion.
However, this year, United have not looked convincing enough, with Ferguson heavily relying on his team's attacking prowess to get them out of tricky situations. Slow starts have been the name of the game for the 19-time League champions, which was resoundingly corrected in an impressive 3-0 win over Newcastle United two weeks ago at St James' Park, when the away team scored two goals within the first 15 minutes.
Ferguson will look for more of the same against Stoke, knowing the physical attributes that Tony Pulis' side possess. Stoke make no bones about their game - make the most of the setpieces on offer - they have scored 67 percent of their goals from deadball situations - and get in as many crosses as possible.
Stoke's leading scorer Peter Crouch will again be the biggest threat for the Red Devils, having scored against them in the 1-1 draw at the Britannia last season. The potential return of Michael Owen to Old Trafford, where he spent three injury-ridden years, will also be an interesting sub-plot.
Ferguson, in the last couple of games, has employed the diamond formation to great effect in order to make full use of the abundant attacking options at his disposal. That formation, which he is again likely to emply against Stoke, will see Wayne Rooney play in a deeper playmaking role, with Robin Van Persie and Danny Welbeck most likely the two strikers - even though Javier Hernandez has scored four goals in four games against the Potters. Van Persie, who has been in good form since making his move from Arsenal, has an even better record against Stoke, having scored six goals in just five previous games.
United have no major injury worries, apart from that mini-crisis at center back, and Ferguson will be hoping his English players, who only played their World Cup qualifying game against Poland on Sunday, will be fresh enough for the expected physical battle.
Stoke, who are 12th on eight points, played a drab 0-0 draw against Liverpool in their last game and goals have been hard to come by having scored just six goals all season, although they have been frugal in giving away goals as well - conceding just five. Draws have been the order of the day for the Potters - they have played five stalemates from seven games, two of them goalless ones.
So, despite having a powerful strikeforce, United will know getting goals even at Old Trafford against this Stoke side will be far from easy.
"It is one game, and people may not give us much chance on Saturday," Stoke midfielder Steven N'Zonzi said.
"We have performed well this season and picked up points from games where people may not have thought we would get anything. We are moving in the right direction and I am really enjoying being a part of it all.
"It's been a tough start for us in terms of the teams we have played so far, so when people look at the results and only see one win, I don't think it really tells the full story.
"Of those five draws, three (Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool) have been against teams who will be right up there come the end of the season, so they are good points for us to have up on the board.
"Obviously, we want to get more wins, that is what football is all about, but they will come. The performances have been good and we can take a lot of positives from the start we have made."
Expected lineups: Manchester United: De Gea, Evra, Evans, Ferdinand, Rafael, Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa, Rooney, Welbeck, Van Persie.
Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Whelan, Adam, N'Zonzi, Kightly, Walters, Crouch.
Prediction: 3-1 to United