Crystal Palace vs Everton - 5 Key Battles

2. Joel Ward vs Steven Pienaar And Leighton Baines

Crystal Palace's best player so far this season Joel Ward has been a rare shining light for Palace in the Premier League. Despite his inexperience at the highest level Ward brings some coolness and composure to a shaky Palace defense - surely it will only be a matter of time before he catches the eye of a larger Premier League club. Converted from a centre-back, Ward is unusually tall for a full-back, standing at 6ft 2in - his height proving useful in aerial and physical duels against naturally smaller opposition wide-players. But Ward also posses the speed required in a wider role, whilst his time at cash-strapped Portsmouth, where Ward was played in a number of attacking roles, has helped him develop his abilities going forward - as Arsenal will testify where only a brilliant Wojciech Szcz™sny save denied him a memorable goal against the league-leaders. Since rejoining Everton in January 2012, South African Steven Pienaar has formed one of most threatening left-sided partnerships in the Premier League with Leighton Baines. The pair's creativity combined with their ability to provide a killer ball has made Baines and Pienaar has been a trademark of their game at Everton. Plus add Baines set-piece abilities into the equation and you have got one of Everton's most vital components. However, their have been occasions where Baines has been exposed defensively - this side of his game has been the main downfall in his attempts to displace Ashley Cole in the England line-up. This will have to be something Crystal Palce look to take advantage of if they are to prevail in victory this weekend. In conclusion this is an area of the game where I expect a very well matched competition between the two clubs most prized assets.