Both Crystal Palace and Watford head into Sunday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium with an opportunity to prolong their bid for silverware after a disappointing few months in the Premier League.
The Eagles and the Hornets have seen their form deteriorate after promising starts to the campaign, but whoever emerges victorious at the weekend will earn an overdue appearance in the final and the chance to qualify for the Europa League.
Crystal Palace
© Getty ImagesSince the turn of the year, Crystal Palace have earned just eight points from 16 fixtures in the Premier League, which makes it all the more remarkable that Alan Pardew has managed to help the club to four successive victories in the FA Cup.
After claiming narrow wins over both Southampton and Stoke City, Palace travelled to White Hart Lane with their hosts enjoying a fine run of form in other competitions, but a Martin Kelly goal was enough to secure a 1-0 success in North London.
A quarter-final trip to Reading was considered their easiest tie of the competition so far but it brought its own pressures with Palace not reaching the final since 1990.
However, late goals from Yohan Cabaye and Fraizer Campbell guaranteed the Eagles a trip to Wembley, and they will head into the contest with renewed confidence after claiming five points from their last four outings.
The 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on Wednesday night was a blow, but last weekend's 1-1 draw at Arsenal was proof that they are starting to regain the belief that saw the team occupy a place in the top six earlier in the season.
With Premier League safety almost assured, Palace can throw everything into Sunday's game and while it may not be directly significant in terms of Pardew keeping his job at Selhurst Park next season, victory would put the club in a stronger position to acquire new signings in the summer after their recent investment.
Recent form: WWWW
Recent form (all competitions): LDWDDL
Watford
© Getty ImagesWith Watford never being in danger of relegation in their first season back in the Premier League and the club reaching the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2007, Quique Flores may feel hard done by after having his future placed in doubt in recent weeks.
However, if reports are to believed, the reality of the situation is that it may take an FA Cup final appearance to show the club's owners that he deserves another 12 months to continue the progress that they have made this campaign.
The Hornets have only secured four points from their last seven league fixtures but each of their defeats have come against sides chasing European football and with the distraction of remaining in the FA Cup, their recent struggles may be blown out of proportion.
As far as their FA Cup run is concerned, they were afforded a comfortable route to the last eight against Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United respectively, but they were handed arguably the toughest of the quarter-final draws when faced with a trip to Arsenal.
Flores's men were fully deserving of their 2-1 victory over the Gunners, though, with Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura netting the goals that secured their team's place at Wembley this weekend.
Losing to West Ham United on Wednesday evening may have dented their confidence after previously beating West Bromwich Albion but Flores will recognise that in Ighalo and Troy Deeney, they have the stronger attack and he will back them to return to form for this big occasion.
Recent form: WWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLLDWL
Team News
© Getty ImagesFlores has hinted that he is yet to make a decision regarding which of his goalkeepers will start on Sunday.
Costel Pantilimon has featured in Watford's last three FA Cup fixtures but Heurelho Gomes's performance against West Brom may have moved him into contention.
Nordin Amrabat is unavailable after his sending-off against West Ham, but the likes of Ighalo and Deeney will return after they were left out of the starting lineup in midweek.
Pardew has said that the quartet of Joel Ward, Scott Dann, Joe Ledley and Yannick Bolasie will all return to the squad after they missed Wednesday's defeat at Manchester United.
Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey will also be recalled after sitting out the match in midweek.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Hennessey; Ward, Mariappa, Delaney, Souare; Jedinak, Cabaye, Bolasie; Zaha, Sako; Adebayor
Watford possible starting lineup:
Gomes, Nyom, Prodl, Britos, Ake, Guedioura, Capoue, Watson, Jurado, Ighalo, Deeney
Head To Head
Sunday's fixture will represent the 113th time that the two clubs have met in a competitive match, with Palace winning 46 times in comparison to 41 victories for Watford.
The two teams have shared a win apiece in the Premier League this season but it has only been three years since they met in a Wembley showpiece after clashing in the Championship playoff final in 2013.
A penalty in extra time from Kevin Phillips ensured that Palace claimed the spoils and they have retained their place in the top flight since that day.
We say: Crystal Palace 2-1 Watford
Both teams have found goals difficult to come by of late and we are predicting a low-scoring game on Sunday. Everything points towards a closely-fought contest but we think that Palace's extra creativity in the final third and stronger threat from set pieces will help them to a place in the final.
