Last season, Roy Hodgson's Fulham side were virtual certainties for relegation to the Championship with three games to go. But, the experienced manager conjured up some fighting spirit and managed to keep his troops in the Premier League.
Wins against Man City, Birmingham and Portsmouth saw a miracle achieved at Craven Cottage. Hodgson had waved his magic wand over a side which had won just two games since their 2-1 victory over Villa at the start of February.
On Saturday, O'Neill takes his side to West London, having seen off Phil Brown's struggling Hull City to claim a first win in 13 games.
The recent form of the Claret and Blue has been no better than that of Fulham prior to the last three games of last season. The big difference being that Gareth Barry and co picked up enough points earlier in the season not only to secure survival but to challenge for a top five spot.
After missing out on a breaching of the big four, Villa face a battle with Everton to achieve the 'best of the rest' tag. With three games to go, three wins will make sure of fifth.
So can they do a Fulham and claim maximum points?
Well, games in this league don't come much tougher than the one Villa face on Saturday. The Cottagers have made their home ground something of a fortress this season, with only one of the top four teams managing to claim all three points there. The lucky winner was Liverpool and even they needed a last minute Yossi Benayoun goal to secure victory.
Doubts
So, it will undoubtedly be a tricky clash for the Villans but they should take heart from unlikely victors Hull, Blackburn and West Ham who all defeated Hodgson's men on their own turf.
With John Carew on fire and the rest of his starting XI beginning to find some semblance of form, O'Neill will be confident of inflicting some capital punishment.
Unfortunately for the Villa boss, Ashley Young, Stiliyan Petrov and Carlos Cuellar are all doubtful so the door may be open for Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell to start.
Fulham also have injury doubts with former bluenose Andy Johnson, Bobby Zamora and Paul Konchesky all facing late fitness tests.
Hodgson's hopefuls will be aiming for another strong finish to a campaign as they go in search of seventh spot - a position which would see them enter the UEFA Europa League alongside Villa next season.
With an estimated £1m benefit for finishing fifth as oppose to sixth, O'Neill and his men will also be going all guns blazing for the victory.
And with no huge pressures on either side, unlike last season when Fulham faced the Premier League trap door, this should be some clash.