Not favourites?! Really Emma Hayes?!

Chelsea are hunting their fifth WSL in a row this season. They could be six points off the top at this stage and I'd still have them as my faves.

Still, a loss to City and things can quickly slide.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea are not "overwhelming favourites" to win the Women's Super League title, said boss Emma Hayes this week.

The Blues are three points clear at the top of the table, before their match with second-placed Manchester City tonight.

Chelsea are still in the hunt for four trophies, with knockout games in the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League coming up.

"We have experience of being in this position and we understand what it takes to win titles," Hayes added.

"We will have to use all of that experience in the next part, starting from tomorrow, to be in the best position possible to win another title. But one thing is for certain, the title isn't decided over one or two games, it's effectively breaking down the season in blocks.

"We're in a strong position for sure, but I do not believe we are overwhelming favourites to win a title just because of our position."

Anyway, I should probably stick to this game, we can always chat football feuds from over a decade ago at half-time.

Pre-match press conferences always bring up some bangers. Let's remind ourselves of what's been said this week...

"A team from the north west".

It's like when Sir Alex Ferguson called Newcastle "a wee club from the north east".

That was in 2013. Manchester United beat Newcastle home and away that season.

The mind games DO work.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Kingsmeadow

This is the biggest game of the season to date, there's no other way of dressing it up.

Both managers played it down in their press conferences this week, understandably, but City know they can put real pressure on Chelsea if they come away with a win.

Emma Hayes' side were introduced to the fans at Kingsmeadow as they came out for the warm-ups as "the champions of England", while Manchester City were the "team from the north west".

Ouch.

Manchester City have genuine belief they can turn it around this season and win the title but a victory tonight COULD be needed to do that as you wouldn't expect Chelsea to drop many points from now until the end of the season.

Thanks Emma!

Two very strong teams, exactly what you want to see. The very best taking each other on. I can already feel the tension rising.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Kingsmeadow

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has made just one change to the side who were successful in the Women’s FA Cup the last time out.

It's a big one as Lauren James returns, replacing Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, who drops to the bench.

Chelsea XI: Hampton, Charles, Carter, Bjorn, Lawrence, Leupolz, Cuthbert (C), Reiten, James, Kirbyl, Ramirez.

Subs: Nusken, Perisset, Mjelde, Kaneryd, Buchanan, Cankovic, Beever-Jones, Ingle.

Gareth Taylor doesn't make any changes to the Manchester City side who beat Arsenal in the Women’s FA Cup in London last weekend.

Khadija Shaw, who went off in that game with a knock, is fine to start.

Manchester City XI: Keating, Aleixandri, Greenwood (C), Coombs, Kelly, Hemp, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Shaw, Hasegawa.

Subs: MacIver, Stokes, Fowler, Angeldahl, Morgan, Mace, Blindkilde-Brown, Mace, Kennedy.

Team news is up next. Will Lauren James start for Chelsea?

Image source, Getty Images

This one is absolutely huge.

First against second, a proper Friday night feast.

I reckon this might be the biggest match in the English women's game since the World Cup final. A potential title-decider.

Aren't we lucky?