Newcastle's visit to the Etihad Stadium brings an unexpected collision of high-flying mutual excellence. The Premier League's two remaining unbeaten records are on the line as the division's meanest defence – Alan Pardew's keenly-drilled all-sorts – meets the most prolific attack. There have been suggestions Newcastle's run is rooted in an unusually clement run of fixtures and that Saturday's game will give a clearer indication of their quality. Pardew's hopes of proving otherwise are aided by the absence of Samir Nasri and the wearying effects on City's powerful squad of a week of globetrotting international service. Barney Ronay

Venue Etihad Stadium, Saturday 3pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Manchester City 2 Newcastle 1

Referee Chris Foy

This season's matches 4 Y17, R2, 4.75 cards per game

Odds Manchester City 1-3 Newcastle 10-1 Draw 9-2

Manchester City

Subs from Pantilimon, Taylor, Savic, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Onuoha, De Jong, Milner, K Touré, Dzeko, Rekik, Veseli

Doubtful Agüero (groin)

Injured Hargreaves (match fitness, 27 Nov), Nasri (knee, 18 Dec)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWWWW

Disciplinary record Y14 R1

Leading scorer Dzeko 10

Newcastle

Subs from Elliott, Perch, Gosling, Abeid, Best, Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Vuckic, Smith, Ferguson

Doubtful Best (groin)

Injured Obertan (toe, 26 Nov), Tioté (knee, 26 Nov), Williamson (ankle, 26 Nov), Marveaux (groin, 10 Dec)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWDWW

Disciplinary record Y21 R0

Leading scorer Ba 8

Match pointers

• City are unbeaten in their last nine top-flight meetings with Newcastle, winning seven of them

• Newcastle have conceded a larger proportion of league goals from set pieces (50%) than any other side in 2011-12

• Samir Nasri and David Silva have both managed six assists so far this season, the joint most in the division

• Demba Ba has scored 15 goals in just 18 league starts for Newcastle and West Ham

• These clubs have both gone 14 Premier League games without defeat, the longest current run in the division