Midfielder Steve Sidwell says Aston Villa will go into their Premier League clash with table-toppers Chelsea on Saturday full of confidence.

Villa have already beaten title hopefuls Liverpool at Anfield this season and took an encouraging point against in-form Manchester City before the international break.

And despite defeats to Wigan and Blackburn, Sidwell believes his side have been playing well and are at their best when the odds are against them.

"We were frustrated with the manner of those defeats," Sidwell told the club's official website.

"But so far we have held our own against some tough opposition and no more so than Manchester City.

"When our backs are against the wall and people doubt us, we seem to step it up and really show what we are made of.

"It's a great game to come back into."

Villa will be buoyed on by their recent impressive record against Chelsea at Villa Park. The Londoners' 1-0 victory last February was their first win over Villa in Birmingham since 1999.

Carlo Ancelotti's men go into the clash with just one defeat from their opening eight games and currently sit at the Premier League summit.

They will be boosted by news that Michael Ballack's ankle injury suffered during the international week is not as bad as first thought.

The 33-year-old midfielder picked up the problem in Germany's World Cup qualifying clash with Russia last weekend, but is likely to make the trip to Birmingham with the rest of the squad.