Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday knowing that victory would surely end the visitors' fading hopes of pipping them to the Premier League title.
However, it promises to be one of two significant tests left in the Blues' calendar, with United beating Manchester City 4-2 last week to establish a six-game winning streak.
Chelsea
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Sunday's 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers saw Chelsea clasp one hand on the trophy that has eluded them since 2010.
With a seven-point cushion over second-placed Arsenal - whom they face next week - and United a point further back in third, the Blues have done enough in recent weeks to reduce the billing of Saturday's visit.
It could have represented the mouth-watering title decider that it might have looked on paper when the fixtures were announced, but with an eight-point lead and a game in hand over the visitors - a trip to bottom-of-the-table Leicester City - even defeat for Chelsea would surely only delay the inevitable.
It has often been said that the capacity to grind out wins at this stage of the season is the hallmark of champions, and having won their last three by a one-goal margin, it is difficult to argue that Chelsea are not displaying a similar type of resilience that United were famous for during Sir Alex Ferguson's reign.
If there were any lingering doubts over the Londoners' title credentials when they lost 5-3 to Spurs on New Year's Day then Mourinho has emphatically set his team's doubters straight.
Since then, Chelsea have won eight and drawn three of the 11 outings that followed the defeat at White Hart Lane.
They have also had to contend with their rivals' stunning form, with United and the Gunners winning their last 14 league games between them, but the truth is that they are running out of games and Chelsea should move one step nearer this weekend.
Recent form: DWDWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WDDWWW
Manchester United
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Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge represents a chance for United to show just how far they have come under Louis van Gaal this season - and how far they can go.
After picking up a paltry five points from a possible 15 at the start of the campaign - including an opening-day defeat to Swansea City at Old Trafford - it could be said that the Dutchman could have enjoyed better starts to life in England.
Despite welcoming a host of big-name talent to the club in a summer spending spree totalling roughly £150m, a top-four finish was always the priority for Van Gaal in his maiden season and, with six games to go, third-placed United will surely achieve that.
They come into this one with an eight-point cushion over Liverpool back in fifth and a six-game winning streak after beating bitter rivals Manchester City last weekend.
In truth, defeats to Swansea City and Southampton have been the only blemishes in an otherwise immensely encouraging 2015 thus far.
Still, there will be some lingering disappointment for the Red Devils that their visit to West London is not more pivotal to the title race, with their stuttering early-season form now looking costly.
However, if nothing else, the encounter will provide a barometer to measure just how close they are to Chelsea in terms of quality - and how much of a force they can be to the champions elect next season.
Recent form: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLWWWW
Team News
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Chelsea could be forced to field third-choice striker Didier Drogba once again, after Loic Remy joined Diego Costa on the missing list for the win at QPR.
Mourinho revealed that Remy will return to the squad, but it remains to be seen if he will be risked, with next week's trip to Arsenal likely to influence the Portuguese's decision.
Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic are expected to continue in midfield, despite both being one booking away from missing that visit to the Emirates Stadium.
Meanwhile, Van Gaal has been boosted by the news that Robin van Persie and Luke Shaw both could shake off their respective injuries to participate after the duo trained with the first team this week.
Michael Carrick is expected to sit this one out with a calf problem following the Manchester derby, while Jonny Evans is still missing as he serves the last of a six-game ban for spitting at Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse.
Chelsea's possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Drogba
Manchester United's possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Shaw; Blind; Herrera, Fellaini, Young, Mata; Rooney
Head To Head
Van Persie grabbed a last-minute equaliser when the sides drew 1-1 at Old Trafford earlier in the season.
The Blues take a seven-game unbeaten run against United into the Bridge on Saturday - three of which have been victories - as the Red Devils remain winless against their London counterparts since a 3-2 away victory back in October 2012.
We say: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United
Optimism is high in the United camp by virtue of their six-game winning streak, and rightly so, but the trip to London is undoubtedly their biggest test of the season and we feel that Van Gaal and co may just fall short against a team who simply will not be stopped at the moment.
Shane Callaghan
