Mansfield vs Arsenal, Saturday, kick-off 12.15pm
There are 54 league positions between Arsenal and Mansfield Town. If ever there was a chance for Mikel Arteta to rotate his side, this is surely it. The Gunners have four games in 12 days to come after Saturday's trip to Field Mill, including the Carabao Cup final.
There is a lengthy list of fringe players who will be eager for opportunities. Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended having been booked twice in the previous rounds but could fellow academy graduate Max Dowman, fit again following injury, provide a reminder of his thrilling quality ahead of the run-in?
here are more experienced players waiting in the wings too.
Christian Norgaard will surely fancy his chances of starting in place of Martin Zubimendi, who has racked up more minutes than any other player this season. Riccardo Calafiori is another player in need of rhythm and playing time.
Mansfield will aim to punish any complacency. But the depth of quality available to Mikel Arteta is such that they would be overwhelming favourites even with a fully rotated team. A chance to rest legs as their season enters a critical stage should not be missed.
Nick Wright
Wrexham vs Chelsea, Saturday, kick-off 5.45pm
Chelsea have flexed their muscles in the FA Cup since Liam Rosenior took charge but Saturday's game against Wrexham will draw neutral spectators in as fans seek a Hollywood-script style twist, fuelled by the magic of the cup.
The Blues have already swept Charlton and Rosenior's former side Hull, who sit one place above Wrexham in the Championship play-off picture, aside after winning by an aggregate scoreline of 9-1 across both games.
Wrexham, however, have shown they can compete with Premier League sides after knocking Nottingham Forest out on penalties in the third round.
A meeting with Chelsea offers a fresh opportunity to showcase their potential top-flight credentials.
"Maximum effort" is the phrase used often by Marvel superhero Deadpool, a character played by Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, in high-octane moments where the odds seem stacked against him.
Chelsea should expect exactly that from Wrexham. A packed Racecourse Ground, bubbling away with the anticipation of an Oscar-worthy upset to progress into the quarter finals, while knowing their Premier League opponents are juggling Wednesday's trip to Paris Saint-Germain.
Where Wrexham go, the stars tend to follow. They could be aligning on Saturday.
Patrick Rowe
Newcastle vs Manchester City, Saturday, kick-off 8pm
Eddie Howe and Pep Guardiola must be sick of the sight of each other. Saturday's clash will be their fifth meeting this season in the fifth round of the FA Cup - but which for which team will it be a high five?
The pair have already played each other twice in the Premier League and Carabao Cup semi-finals, with Man City leading the head-to-head with three wins to one. Their last meeting was two weeks ago when two goals from Nico O'Reilly secured a 2-1 win at the Etihad.
What will be vital for Newcastle this time around is playing at St James' Park. It is where their Premier League win came in November, and the home crowd have demonstrated their influence time and again when they're at their raucous best.
Man City might not be intimidated by it, such is their experience, but it will certainly give the Newcastle players a huge boost.
Howe defended how much importance he has placed on cup competitions this season in his pre-match press conference, but given the joy the Carabao Cup brought the city and club last season, it's easy to see why. It could be their only route into Europe next season too, with the FA Cup winners handed a spot in the Europa League.
Man City's place in Europe next season is secure, but they hardly turn their nose up at another trophy. Newcastle will be a difficult task, but one they have successfully navigated three times already this season. They will be hoping for number four on Saturday.
Charlotte Marsh
Fulham vs Southampton, Sunday, kick-off 12pm
The Championship is bonkers this year and Southampton are living proof. Saints were 21st in the table when Tonda Eckert took over early in November following the sacking of Will Still, but a run of six wins in eight has seen them climb to one place outside the play-off places. See? Bonkers.
As for Marco Silva, this game feels important. He's consistently spoken about wanting to steer Fulham to the 'next level' this season, without really detailing what the next level constitutes. Does it mean European qualification? Does he have designs on silverware?
If it's the latter, the FA Cup is his only option. Perhaps he even believes both of the above feats are possible simultaneously. If so, stopping a Southampton side that has scored 15 goals in their last five games in all competitions will be key. Saints are actually unbeaten in nine, a run stretching back to January, and will no doubt fancy themselves an upset if Fulham can't reach Silva's much-desired level.
Laura Hunter
Port Vale vs Sunderland, Sunday, kick-off 1.30pm
Port Vale need a big performance to overcome their Premier League opponents this weekend, and they have had truly contrasting form at Vale Park between league and cup.
Just 12 of their 27 League One points have been won at home as they sit bottom of the table, with only two wins - although one of those did come against fellow fifth-round hopefuls, Mansfield.
But all four of their FA Cup wins this season have come at Vale Park and the last three have been by a 1-0 scoreline. This includes beating Championship side Bristol City in extra time on Tuesday evening.
They go again quickly as they host Regis Le Bris' high-flying Sunderland, who will be confident that they can take on all-comers in this season's FA Cup. They have also won both of their fixtures in the competition on the road, and will be looking to avoid an upset on Sunday.
Charlotte Marsh
Leeds vs Norwich, Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm
Leeds have only lost two of their last 15 meetings with Norwich, and both of those came when Daniel Farke, who now occupies the home dugout at Elland Road, was in charge of Sunday's visitors.
Farke, of course, still holds a special place in the hearts of Canaries fans for the joy of two promotion-winning campaigns between 2019-2021.
Philippe Clement is a man on his own mission, though. Norwich were relegation-bound before the Belgian arrived, keen to prove his credentials in the English leagues after taking a stab at Scotland and falling foul of Celtic's unrelenting dominance. Overseeing Rangers' first home loss to St Mirren since 1991 in his final act in charge wasn't exactly the highlight of his tumultuous tenure at Ibrox.
A year on, horizons appear much brighter. Clement's style of football has been well received at Norwich and there is substance to match, too, with eight victories in their last 10 league and cup outings. He will be aware that Leeds have already beaten two Championship sides en route to the fifth round but hopeful his side can catch Farke juggling priorities.
Leeds play Crystal Palace and Brentford in their next two Premier League games, needing points in both to stave off any threat of relegation talk ramping up again.
Laura Hunter
West Ham vs Brentford, Monday, kick-of 7.30pm
As much as West Ham would love a cup run, Nuno Espirito Santo has bigger concerns in the final three months of the season with the Hammers battling to stay in the Premier League.
An upturn in form has made that a far more realistic prospect than it looked at the start of 2026, but a potential three further games and the associated distraction is probably not what his side needs right now.
You could make some of the same points for Keith Andrews' Brentford as they chase a first-ever season in Europe - but without the same pressure and with a week's rest before they face Wolves live on Monday Night Football, there is no reason for them not to go with a strong line-up.
Thomas Frank did so much for the Bees but never made cup competitions a priority, so the chance to move within one game of Wembley is a huge draw for their supporters - and should be for Andrews too.
Ron Walker
