Chelsea v Manchester City preview: Depleted City ready to use kids

With City flying to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev just 24 hours after Sunday's showdown with Chelsea, the FA Cup tie could not have come at a worse time for Pellegrini, who is reluctant to field his strongest side.

"I think it (the FA Cup) is a serious competition and not a competition you can throw away," said the Chilean, whose side were beaten at home by the Premier League's top two, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur, in their last two matches.

"But at this moment... the chance to try and get to the Champions League quarter-final for the first time, I think it's a case where we are going to prioritise."

While both teams will line up at Stamford Bridge on the back of defeats, Chelsea are no doubt aware that the Cup presents their best chance of ending the season with a trophy.

Hovering in the bottom half of the Premier League is bad enough but a 2-1 defeat at Paris St Germain on Tuesday has left Chelsea in danger of going out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage -- with the second leg to come on March 9.

Hiddink had led Chelsea on a 12-match unbeaten run since taking over from the sacked Jose Mourinho in December but that streak ended on Tuesday when he was forced to reshuffle his back four for the PSG clash after captain John Terry was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Asked if Terry would return for the City game on Sunday, Hiddink said "Difficult."

Holders Arsenal will take on second tier Hull City on Saturday as they try to take another step towards becoming the first club since Blackburn Rovers in 1886 to win the FA Cup three years in a row.

It has been a quarter of a century since Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur won the Cup but Mauricio Pochettino's men will be eager to continue their high-flying league form when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.

While Spurs and Arsenal are chasing a league-and-cup double, with both teams trailing Premier League leaders Leicester City by two points, Manchester United's chances of landing any domestic silverware lie solely with the FA Cup.

The managerial axe has been hovering above Louis van Gaal's neck for several weeks and, with rumours of former Chelsea boss Mourinho waiting in the wings to take over, the Dutchman knows he cannot afford any more false moves with United.

Saturday's league defeat by Sunderland dented United's hopes of securing a Champions League place next season and, should they lose to third tier Shrewsbury Town -- the lowest ranked team left in the FA Cup -- on Monday, Van Gaal is likely to be denied any further stay of execution.

In other fifth-round matches, Bournemouth host Everton in an all-Premier League tie, Watford play second tier Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United travel to Championship sides Reading and Blackburn Rovers respectively.

Chelsea captain John Terry is out Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie with Manchester City with a hamstring injury, interim boss Guus Hiddink said on Friday. Terry missed Chelsea's 2-1 Champions League last-16 first-leg loss at Paris St Germain on Tuesday night with the problem sustained in last Saturday's Premier League win over Newcastle. The 35-year-old skipper's next appearance will be his 700th for Chelsea, who maintain a contract offer might be forthcoming after Terry revealed he would be leaving Stamford Bridge when his current deal expires at the end of the season.

Manchester City will field a weakened team for this weekend's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Chelsea. City are prioritising the Champions League, in which they play Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday, their manager Manuel Pellegrini said.

Kick off is at 4pm on Sunday, February 21.

The match will take place at the Stamford Bridge. Here's all the info you need about the ground.

Yes - the match will be televised on BBC Sport in the UK.

Here's the schedule.

Manchester City have won six and lost just two of their last 11 matches against Chelsea in all competitions.

Chelsea have won 24 and lost just of of their last 29 FA Cup matches played at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have kept five clean sheets in their last six FA Cup matches played at Stamford Bridge.

City and Chelsea have been drawn together five times in the FA Cup with the Citizens winning four and losing just one.

In fact, City have won the last four with the Londoners’ only victory coming back on 20 February 1915.

Samir Nasri has scored in his last three non-Premier League appearances against Chelsea.

Man City have won five and lost just one of the last nine FA Cup matches away from home.

Guus Hiddink has never lost an FA Cup match with Chelsea, guiding them to the trophy in 2009.

Kelechi Iheanacho has averaged a goal every 70 minutes in all competitions for Manchester City this season (nine goals in 628 mins).

Manchester City have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four competitive away games.

Chelsea 5/6

Draw 13/5

Manchester City 10/3