Bill Clinton had just taken over in the White House the last time Manchester City returned from Stamford Bridge with three points.

It was January 1993 when Mike Sheron netted twice for City in their 4-2 win - the same month that Clinton replaced George Bush senior.

Now, there is another new president in the White House hoping to one-day become as revered as Clinton, but the arrival of Barrack Obama is unlikley to produce another City win.

Last season, they lost 6-0 at Stamford Bridge and their record on the road in this campaign is awful.

Mark Hughes's men have not won in their last 12 away League fixtures and, while they look strong at home, have fast become known as awful travellers.

Sunday's match has a great sub-plot running through it though. Wayne Bridge and Shaun Wright-Phillips are returning for the first time since leaving Chelsea - then there is Robinho, the star who decided to move to Eastlands at the last minute for £32.5million.

There will also be a lot of money on show in the boardroom, with the billions of Roman Abramovich being outdone for once by City's Arab owners.

Robinho's move may have cost Phil Scolari his job. The Brazilian playmaker was the man Scolari had pinned his hopes upon. He allowed Wright-Phillips to leave because he believed Robinho was his player.

His performances for City have been mixed, but he raised his game in the recent 1-1 draw at Liverpool and it is their displays against the bigger teams that has filled Hughes with optimism ahead of this Sunday's match.

The City boss said: "We are in good shape for Chelsea. It is a big test for us but we are looking forward to it. We weren't up to the mark against them earlier in the season when we lost 3-1 to them in September but we are a different team now. Our form has improved and we have had some good results recently - it has been a good week for us and for them.

"We acquit ourselves better against teams like Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool because they attack you and that opens it up and helps us.

"We enjoy playing the big teams because it gives us the opportunity to play to our strengths."

Guus Hiddink has overseen a run of five wins in his first six games in charge at Chelsea.

Progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Juventus on Wednesday night was further evidence that the club have turned over a new leaf since Scolari's departure last month.

They could be 10 points behind Manchester United at the top of the table by kick-off on Sunday, with Sir Alex Ferguson's team taking on Liverpool tomorrow.

Bridge, who made 142 appearances for Chelsea between July 2003 and his January move, believes City could help their cross-town rivals by derailing his former club's title challenge at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "I am looking forward to going back and seeing some old faces but I want to go there and make sure we get three points.

"We want to get as high up the table as possible, we need the points so we have to go to win.

"I would like to think I will get a good reception and it would be great to get a win over them.

"I take one game at a time, I am looking forward to it but more importantly I want Manchester City to do well against them.

"I know a lot about their team - it is going to be a really hard game so we have to make sure we concentrate for the whole 90 minutes or else we will be punished by a team like Chelsea.

"They are doing well but hopefully we can catch them unaware and nick a win because we want the three points on offer."

The 28-year-old's January switch cost City £12m and Bridge is certain that he did the right thing in moving to Eastlands.

He added: "We have done well against the big teams recently and hopefully we can do well again on Sunday.

"I have not watched them too much but I did watch the game the other night against Juventus and they are dangerous.

"Their front players and their midfield are very dangerous and they attack well but with the team we have got here is very capable and hopefully we can get the win."