If Villa prevail in the West Midlands, they will move to the top of the standings ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal squaring off on Saturday evening.
Unai Emery has opted for numerous changes in personnel and tactics, switching from the 3-5-2 that was used against Brentford to his more familiar 4-4-1-1.
Lucas Digne and Douglas Luiz both return from serving one-match suspensions, with Clement Lenglet and Leon Bailey are also recalled.
As well as Boubacar Kamara missing out due to a three-game ban, Pau Torres is absent due to injury, while Diego Carlos and Alex Moreno only feature on the substitutes' bench.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has changed almost half the team that started the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea last weekend.
Jack Robinson is named in the defence after completing a ban, while Yasser Larouci is selected at left-back.
George Baldock, Oliver Norwood and Anis Ben Slimane are all named in a midfield five, although there is potential for a back three to be named with former Villa man Cameron Archer as the lone striker.
Anel Ahmedhodzic, Max Lowe, Gustavo Hamer, James McAtee and Oli McBurnie are the five players to drop out of the team.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Digne; Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, J.Ramsey; Diaby; Watkins
Subs: Marschall, Carlos, Moreno, Chambers, Zaniolo, Duran, Dendoncker, Iroegbunam, O'Reilly
Sheffield United: Foderingham; Bogle, Robinson, Trusty; Larouci; Baldock, Norwood, Souza, Slimane, Brooks; Archer
Subs: A.Davies, Lowe, Fleck, Hamer, McBurnie, Traore, Thomas, Osborn, McAtee