EVERTON v ASTON VILLA (Saturday 1500 GMT):

Three straight defeats and a growing injury list must make EVERTON manager David Moyes feel like he has run over a black cat.

Moyes has been dealt a bad hand in recent weeks, both on and off the field, and it's difficult not to feel sympathy for him.

But there is no let-up in the Premier League; the challenges keep on coming and Aston Villa will provide another examination of Everton's character and strength of mind.

Moyes has to lift his players once again in the wake of Tuesday's Carling Cup defeat at Tottenham. There is no time to feel sorry for themselves, especially considering they have slumped to within four points of the relegation zone.

Moyes said: "I'd hate to think people thought I was whingeing about injuries. I'm not like that. In fact I'm quite the opposite. We've got injuries like everyone else, but we'll get eleven players out there to play against Villa."

Strategy: Not for the first time this season Moyes will conduct a last-minute roll call to discover who is available before choosing his line-up and approach to the game. Moyes needs to build from the back, stop his defence conceding soft goals and at least provide his side with a realistic chance of competing for a win.

Jack Rodwell is becoming a growing influence in midfield and Moyes will be keen for him to add more attacking threat to his overall play, while a rare start for Jo in attack provides Everton with the opportunity to put significant pressure on Villa's back four, aided by some help from Tim Cahill.

Injury Update: Where to start! The usual suspects, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville and Leon Osman remain sidelined. Doubts remain over Steven Pienaar (knee), Joseph Yobo (head), Louis Saha (calf) and Russian international Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (groin), although Leighton Baines has recovered from a calf strain and will return to the starting line-up.

ASTON VILLA striker Emile Heskey's frustrations have been building at Villa Park for a number of months but he appears to have finally impressed manager Martin O'Neill enough to threaten John Carew's place.

Carew has struggled this season with form and goals and the chance Heskey has been waiting for could come at Goodison Park today. Heskey seemed to be on a mission to win back his place in his return to the Villa team at Sunderland in midweek - his first start in two months.

O'Neill said: "I have known Emile for a long time and I fully expect him to roar back. Every single minute on the field is precious so, when you are out there, you go and do it."

Strategy: Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has urged his midfield team-mates to emulate Everton and produce some goals to aid their push for a Champions League place.

Petrov and Steve Sidwell are both yet to score this term, while wingers Ashley Young and James Milner have only registered a league goal apiece. It will certainly help to alleviate the pressure from the shoulders of Gabby Agbonlahor, who has scored on his last three outings away from Villa Park.

A fiercely determined Heskey will be a vital weapon in O'Neill's armoury today.

Injury Update: Villa will give late fitness tests to Stephen Warnock and Nigel Reo-Coker, who both picked up slight niggles in the Carling Cup win at Sunderland. Defenders Nicky Shorey and Habib Beye will also be assessed before the trip to Everton, after missing last weekend's game at Wolves.

Fran Houseman writes on behalf ofFanhouse UK