Chelsea, their pride dented by an FA Cup semi-final defeat by Liverpool last weekend, can swallow the best antidote by securing a second successive Premier League title when Manchester United visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
A draw for Jose Mourinho's side will finally extinguish United's hopes of a first championship since 2003 and set champagne corks popping again around south-west London.
Having looked set to canter to the title United's strong finish to the season has kept the door open longer than appeared the case when Chelsea led by 18 points in March.
"We want to win it at home. It will be a fantastic season with back-to-back titles which has not been done by Chelsea before," said midfielder Joe Cole, who along with team mates John Terry and Frank Lampard was shortlisted for the English Professional Footballers' Association player of the year award.
United's players, at the behest of Alex Ferguson, gave the champions a guard of honour when the teams met at Old Trafford at the back end of last season but are unlikely to show such bonhomie this time.
For a start Chelsea do not have their name engraved on the trophy just yet.
A win for United would still leave Chelsea needing a point from either their visit to Blackburn Rovers on May 2 or away at Newcastle United on May 7, providing United pick up six points in their last two fixtures.
"Saturday's game is a massive one for us," United's England defender Rio Ferdinand told MUTV. "They'll obviously be trying to win the league but it's up to us to try and delay that for as long as possible."
The Old Trafford side, who inflicted one of only three league defeats on the Londoners this season with a 1-0 win in November, racked up nine successive wins before a goalless draw with Sunderland 13 days ago eased the pressure on Chelsea.
"They've (Chelsea) been very consistent this season and deserve credit for that," added Ferdinand. "We could have put a bit more pressure on them if we hadn't slipped up against Sunderland, but it wasn't to be."
While few believe Ferguson's men can still pull it off United still have to secure second place and the second automatic Champions League place.
They have a three-point advantage over Liverpool, who narrowed the gap with a 2-1 victory at West Ham United on Wednesday. Liverpool, who have played a game more than United, host Aston Villa on Saturday.
England striker Wayne Rooney believes, whatever Saturday's outcome, United will push Chelsea harder next season.
"Next season will be different. Over the last four or five months we have played really well, and if we can continue that and start next season better than we did this one, it could be really close," he said.
The battle for fourth spot and the final Champions League qualifying place rumbles on. Tottenham Hotpsur, four points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal who have a game in hand, host Bolton Wanderers at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Champions League finalists Arsenal are away at relegated Sunderland on Monday.
