Whether you love Birmingham City (unlikely) or hate them, it cannot be denied that the build up to derby day is something special.
With so much at stake in a clash between the two sides, the anticipation and excitement is palpable and everyone has had their say on who will be the winners of Birmingham's biggest clash.
Martin O'Neill's Villa go into the clash with the chance of making it a fantastic five wins on the bounce against their neighbours.
When the two sides met last April, Ashley Young and John Carew sent the Claret and Blue faithful into ecstasy as their team claimed a fantastic 5-1 victory at Villa Park.
Alex McLeish's sorry side simply had no answer on that occasion but it was a far more evenly contested affair earlier in that season as Villa triumphed - thanks to Gabby Agbonlahor's header - at St Andrews.
O'Neill has certainly got the beating of his opposite number and he will hope that with a new defence in place he can once again delight the Villa fans with another welcome win.
The Blues are likely to play a cautious yet tenacious game with an emphasis on unsettling the Claret and Blue key men.
T-shirts
Young is again likely to be at the forefront of proceedings and with no Gareth Barry to set the tone, probable captain Stiliyan Petrov will have to stand up and be counted.
In Lee Carsley, Lee Bowyer and Barry Ferguson, McLeish possesses a midfield full of blood and thunder but with little flair.
If Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell remain patient in their advances and don't get rattled by the home crowd then it should be another red letter day for Villa.
One twist in the tale could, of course, be the appearance of super Kevin Philips.
The former Villa hero could become a villain as he looks to inflict pain on the fans who used to adore him.
Last time he took to the field at St Andrews for a second city derby, Phillips struck the winner for Villa.
Consequently, he was written into Claret and Blue folklore and there were even t-shirts made, emblazoned with his face and labelling him as a Blues slayer.
Journeymen
The ex-West Brom hit man now has the chance to delight his new fans and no one with Villa loyalties should bet against him grabbing a crucial goal on Sunday.
It has to be said, however, that Phillips is typical of an ageing Birmingham squad.
Whereas their Midlands rivals can call on an exhilarating of hungry youngsters, Blues are forced to make do with top tier journeymen in the autumn of their careers.
Ferguson and Bowyer are both well known in British football but with the midfield men reaching an age of 63 between them, they may struggle to keep the pace in England's top division this season.
Villa, with lightning quick Agbonlahor and wizard Young in their ranks, will certainly take some stopping and should they play as well as they did at Anfield on their last away day then the Blues will not be able to cope.
But, as you are sure to have heard many times already during the big build-up - this is a derby and anything is possible.
For supporters of both teams, a win would mean so much. But who will come out on top on Sunday and claim a massive early season boost?
Likely Villa line-up
Friedel
Beye Collins Dunne Warnock
Petrov
Sidwell Reo-Coker
Milner Young
Agbonlahor