Villa stand on the brink of history at Portsmouth – but it is results not records that concern manager Martin O’Neill.

As it stands, O’Neill’s side have an identical record to the title-winning side of 1981 and their return of 44 points after 22 games.

Lverpool finished fourth last season with the same average of two points a match – it’s their best-ever points-wise at this stage.

Equally impessively, victory over Pompey will give them a sixth straight away win in the league, a sequence the club has never achieved before over the course of one season.

It is a record O’Neill would love to see his side set –  yet purely because it will mean they have won.

He said: “It genuinely doesn’t mean a great deal. Portsmouth were really excellent against Tottenham last Sunday, they will cause us unbelievable problems.”

Victory would guarantee Villa leapfrog Chelsea into third, level with Liverpool, as well as moving six points clear of Arsenal – cranking up the pressure on the trio.

There is even the possibility of Villa ending the evening level with Manchester United at the Premier League summit, although that would require Albion to pull off a shock victory over Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

Defender Luke Young was the first of the Villa camp to admit O’Neill’s side are part of this season’s title race but O’Neill continues to play down his side’s chances.

He said: “When you are in this position then people start comparing you to a side who have been there for years, playing this (pressure football) and know their way about – not just Manchester United, not just Chelsea but Liverpool and Arsenal.

“Arsenal led the league this time last year having been beaten once, so for us even to be up there at this minute is probably worth three minutes  talking about it and that is it. It is worth no more.”

“Have Chelsea and Liverpool missed a trick (by dropping points of late)? With Chelsea it is quite the opposite.

“They have gained a trick by scoring two late goals (to win at Stoke). If anything I think that they can regain momentum because of that.

“Nobody from here has said we are up there with Manchester United but at the minute we are a few points away after 22 games, so it has been a good effort.”

O’Neill is set to hand a debut to Emile Heskey with the £3.5million signing from Wigan likely to start alongside Gabby Agbonlahor, who is expected to shake off a knock to take his place.

Luke Young returns from suspension but Martin Laursen (knee) and Ashley Young (suspended) are certain absentees and Nigel Reo-Coker, who scored an own goal at Fratton Park last time out, is a major doubt with a hamstring problem.

Pompey have been on the slide under Tony Adams – they last won in the league in November as well as going out of the FA Cup on Saturday – but stand-in skipper Gareth Barry insists Villa are in for a tough night.

He said: “Portsmouth is always a very tough game at Fratton Park. We are going to have to be ready to start well.”