Chelsea will try to succeed where Manchester United [Images] failed when the champions head for Reading in search of three Premier League points on Saturday.

The Royals are revelling in their first season in the top-flight and have chalked up two wins and a 1-1 draw with United in their three league games at the Madejski Stadium.

Now Steve Coppell's side face their biggest test against a Chelsea side who may have one eye on next week's Champions League tussle with holders Barcelona.

Chelsea will again be without Germany [Images] captain Michael Ballack [Images], who completes a three-match ban for last month's red card against Liverpool.

Coach Jose Mourinho is also likely to rest one or two regulars before the Barca game.

All the top managers are facing a balancing act.

They have to juggle the need to avoid a domestic setback at the weekend with the desire to rest players who have been on international duty ahead of next week's commitments in Europe.

Chelsea's England [Images] midfielder Joe Cole could finally return after a knee injury that has kept him out all season, barring a few minutes against Werder Bremen last month.  

United, who lead Chelsea on goal difference at the top of the table, are away to a Wigan Athletic side who are struggling to reproduce their fine debut season in the Premier League.

Without a win since August, manager Paul Jewell has yet to get the best from strike pairing Emile Heskey and Henri Camara.

For their part, United look to have recovered from the wobble experienced in that draw with Reading and a home defeat by Arsenal [Images], beating Newcastle United 2-0 with two goals from fit-again Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

AVOID MISTAKES

They now need to make their superior team sheet count at the JJB Stadium and avoid past mistakes, as United's Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is well aware.

"Last season we lost too many games against smaller teams. We have to make sure it doesn't happen often," he told the club's web site.

Mid-table Liverpool are likely to be without Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt for the home game against Blackburn Rovers after he picked up an ankle injury on international duty.

Equally worrying for manager Rafael Benitez has been the error-prone form recently of goalkeeper Jose Reina.

Arsenal, in eighth place with a game in hand on the leaders, have been building momentum after a slow start to the season, winning their last five games in all competitions.

The Gunners will expect to make it six in a row on Saturday at home to struggling Watford.

Second from bottom on their return to the top-flight, Watford will face a buoyant Arsenal side who have conceded only two goals in their winning run and scored 10.

Third-placed Bolton Wanderers are away to Newcastle on Sunday while Portsmouth, in fourth, will look to add to a dismal start to the season by West Ham United.

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