Jeremie Boga cuts in from the Birmingham left and dribbles in towards the Villa Penalty area, but Villa get it away.

At the other end, Jack Grealish has the game's first shot at goal, but he clips it wide from outside the box. It's deflected though - corner.

Ex-Villa striker Libor Kozak is keeping an eye on things this afternoon.

The Villa fans roar their side on as Blues' Cheikh Ndoye gives the ball away in midfield, but Jack Grealish can't get the final ball away in the box.

Garry Thompson
Ex-Aston Villa striker on BBC WM 95.6

Villa have tended to be slow starters this season but today it's very important that they get on the front foot and get the Villa fans behind them. Villa have got to raise the tempo.

They will want to do it for Steve Bruce today and give him some cheer at the end of a very bleak week for him.

After a huddle from the Birmingham players - who are in their traditional blue kit - the visitors get the game started.

The atmosphere is rocking.

Darren Carter
Ex-Birmingham City midfielder on BBC WM

For Birmingham, the early stages are all about keeping it solid, nothing silly.

If it has to go long and direct then make sure it does and not give Villa any incentive in the game.

In a derby game as the away team you need to quieten the crowd in the first five-10 minutes and get a foothold in the game.

The players are out and Villa Park is packed, with noise roaring out from both sets of supporters.

It's a bright, winter lunchtime in the West Midlands.

Kick-off is up next.

• Villa are unbeaten in 11 league matches against Birmingham (W7 D4) since losing 2-0 in March 2005 in the Premier League.
• Blues haven’t scored in any of their last four trips to Villa Park in all competitions, since a Mikael Forssell goal in a 5-1 defeat in April 2008.
• Steve Bruce hasn’t lost any of his seven home matches in all competitions against Birmingham since he left St Andrew's in 2007 (W6 D1 L0).
• Villa haven’t won seven consecutive league matches since February 1990, when they were in the top-flight.

Image source, Getty Images

If you want a manager to lead you to promotion to the Premier League, there is no one better than Steve Bruce.

The former Manchester United defender has more promotions from the Championship than any other boss, after taking both Birmingham City and Hull City up twice.

Now he is well placed to make it promotion number five, with Villa starting the day third in the table, two points behind second-placed Derby and with a chance to leapfrog the Rams this afternoon.

However, understandably, the Premier League will have been the furthest thing from Bruce's mind this week following the passing of his father. Our thoughts are with you Steve.

At Christmas, Birmingham City looked odds on for relegation.

Bottom of the table when Santa Claus came to town, three points from safety and without a win in six games.

Image source, Getty Images

Fast forward six weeks and Steve Cotterill's Blues are bouncing after a run of only one defeat in six league games, three goals in each of their last two Championship games and they start today's game outside the relegation zone.

Mark Regan
BBC WM Sport's Aston Villa commentator

Image source, .

Villa go into this derby riding high after six games and six wins, they are the form team in the division and will feel confident as the game is at Villa Park where they are seven games unbeaten.

Robert Snodgrass has nine assists to his name and has weighed in with some crucial goals at Middlesborough and Sheffield United so he'll be a key figure going forward for Villa.

So too will Jack Grealish, who is blossoming into the player we all thought he could become.

Richard Wilford
BBC WM Sport's Birmingham City commentator

Image source, .

While Villa’s recent run of form is eye-popping, it is fair to say that Birmingham come into the game in their most confident period of the season.

Steve Cotterill has latched upon a settled side and a formation that has worked well as a yield of 13 points from six games demonstrates.

Replacing the consistent Jonathan Grounds at left-back could be the key – as I expected, Cotterill has switched Maxime Colin to the left and given loan defender Carl Jenkinson his first league start since August.

And Blues’ front three need to continue in their recent vein led by the increasingly impressive Sam Gallagher.

And Championship manager of the month Steve Bruce will indeed be on the touchline today, despite taking a period of compassionate leave this week to be with his ill mother following the sad passing of his father, Joe.

Image source, .

They say that form goes out of the window for a derby.

But how does that work when both sides are bang in form?

Villa are the division's form side, having won all six of their league games in the Championship since losing to Brentford at Griffin Park on Boxing Day.

But Blues aren't far behind are enjoying their best run of the campaign, having taken 13 points from their last six games - the same as runaway leaders Wolves.

That form saw both bosses shortlisted for the Championship's manager of the month award, but it was Bruce who took the prize. Will his Villa side take the points today too?

Image source, .

Paul Robinson
Birmingham City defender on BBC Radio 5 live

Passion, commitment, the way the atmosphere is, it's a great game to play in. It adds to the spice that several people played for both teams.

It's great for us. The most important thing for us is we control our emotions.

The referee has to have a bit of common sense and hopefully it will be a lively end-to-end game.

The Villa squad is second to none, when you can buy a player like John Terry in the Championship.

I think it will be a tight game.

Jermaine Jenas
Former Aston Villa midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

It's about holding your nerve and handling the occasion. There is pressure on both managers.

They are notoriously lively games. The way Villa are playing, it's a tough one for Birmingham. Villa will be so confident with their momentum.

Image source, Empics

Who are you backing today?

You can have your say on the second city derby via #bbcefl on social media.

Birmingham make six changes from Tuesday's much-changed side that lost in the FA Cup to Huddersfield, but just two changes from last weekend's Championship win at Sheffield Wednesday.

With left-back Jonathan Grounds injured, Birmingham switch Maxime Colin to left full-back and bring in loanee Carl Jenkinson at right-back.

And fit-again Jacques Maghoma comes back in for Jota on the wing, despite the Spaniard's brace at Hillsborough.

Blues starting XI: Stockdale; Jenkinson, Roberts, Dean, Colin, Davis, Kieftendbeld, Ndoye, Maghoma, Boga, Gallagher.

Subs: Kuszczak, Morrison, Bramall, Gardner, Jota, Adams, Jutkiewicz.

Image source, Empics

Fully-fit Villa's only change sees Mile Jedinak come in for Iceland's Birkir Bjarnason, who is on the bench.

But on-loan striker Lewis Grabban has a place among the substitues for the first time since his Deadline Day move from Bournemouth.

Villa starting XI: Johnstone; Elmohamady, Terry, Chester, Hutton, Snodgrass, Jedinak, Hourihane, Adomah, Grealish, Hogan.

Subs: Bunn, Taylor, Whelan, Bjarnason, Tuanzebe, Onomah, Grabban.

It's not often been the case in this fixture in recent years, but both of these sides arrive at the derby on runs of very good form in their past six league games.

Without out further ado, let's run you through the team news...