A place in the Carling Cup Final is now just three games away, for the eight teams left in the competition and as the Quarter Finals take place the action is hotting up.

There are two games on Tuesday and two more on Wednesday with two of the matches being televised live on Sky Sports.

Portsmouth host Aston Villa on Tuesday hoping to put their league form behind them and continue their good form in the competition, which has seen them beat Hereford United, Carlisle United and Stoke City.

It will be Avram Grant's second game in charge, after seeing them go down 4-1 at home to Manchester United at the weekend and he is desperate to progress:

"Any sportsman wants to win and I'm the same," he told www.portsmouthfc.co.uk

"Villa have a very strong team who play good football. They play like a team - they defend like a team and they attack like a team. Martin is a good manager who I like.

"But it's a challenge for them also. You saw on Saturday that our players play good football and have plenty of spirit."

Villa boss Martin O'Neill has fond memories of this competition, winning it twice as both a player and manager and he's looking for more success, as he revealed to www.avfc.co.uk

"We are playing a Premier League side at home in the quarter final and the game has to be decided on the evening.

"It couldn't be any more difficult. But we are going there, we are going to try and win the game.

"We've got an opportunity and Portsmouth will think exactly the same. When the draw was made, Portsmouth themselves would be hoping for a home tie, and they've got it.

"The reports from the weekend were that Portsmouth did exceptionally well, especially in the first half and were really giving Manchester United a proper game."

Blackburn Rovers will be without Sam Allardyce once again, when they take on Chelsea on Wednesday, after the Rovers' boss underwent heart surgery on Friday. He has missed the last two league matches with Assistant Neil McDonald taking charge and Brett Emerton is hoping they can give the Manager the ideal pick me up.

The Australian has been on the losing side for Rovers in three Carling Cup Semi-Finals already but he is hoping for a change in luck this time around.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph he said: "To get to Wembley would be something special. I've had a couple of semi finals but you're in football to win things and hopefully this is our chance.

"I don't think we'll need to mention that defeat in the changing rooms.

"It's still fresh in our minds and we must not let it happen again."

Chelsea go into the match unbeaten in their last nine matches, including a 5-0 win over Blackburn earlier in the season. Two goals from Frank Lampard and strikes from Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and an own goal from Gael Givet completed the scoring that afternoon and they will be looking for more of the same this time around.

WHAT'S ON THE BOX

The holders Manchester United take on Tottenham Hotspur, in a repeat of last year's final, in the first of the televised matches from Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side ran out winners at Wembley, in February, when Ben Foster was the hero saving a crucial spot kick from Jamie O'Hara during a penalty shoot-out and Sir Alex Ferguson would love a chance to retain the trophy.

Tottenham Hotspur have been in excellent form this season and currently sit third in the Premier League table and after beating Wigan Athletic 9-1 a fortnight ago confidence is high in the camp.

Speaking to sportinglife.com Harry Redknapp said: "I think we are getting to the stage where it is possible for us to go away (to top-four clubs), we can play at these places and feel we've got a chance of winning."

On Wednesday the cameras are back in Manchester as Manchester City host Arsenal at Eastlands. After seven consecutive league draws City boss Mark Hughes would welcome a victory as he told the Manchester Evening News: "We are really looking forward to tomorrow night, and getting the chance to get into a domestic cup semi-final for the first time in many, many years.

"And if we win on Wednesday, it gives everyone a huge boost leading into the Chelsea game at the weekend."

Arsene Wenger watched his side slip further behind the leaders in the race for the Premier League title, on Sunday, when they lost to Chelsea but he has confirmed he will put his faith back in the young guns on Wednesday.

For the full list of televised games please click here