Good afternoon all and welcome to our live coverage as Chelsea take on Southampton in the second FA Cup semi-final of the weekend at Wembley Stadium. Antonio Conte's charges comes up against relegation-threatend Southampton for a chance to face Manchester United in the showpiece final next month.

CHELSEA STARTING XI: Caballero; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Emerson; Willian, Giroud, Hazard

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Eduardo, Christensen, Zappacosta, Barkley, Bakayoko, Pedro, Morata

SOUTHAMPTON STARTING XI: McCarthy, Cedric, Hoedt, Yoshida, Bednarek; Bertrand, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Lemina; Austin, Long

SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUES: Forster, McQueen, Tadic, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Gabbiadini, Carrillo

So Antonio Conte has decided to hand Olivier Giroud, who has a standout goalscoring record in this tournament, a start alongside both Eden Hazard and Willian in attack. Chelsea will be playing three at the back with Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill and Antonio Rudiger, while Victor Moses and Emerson Palmieri are the wing-backs.

As expected, Willy Caballero continues between the sticks, while N'Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas have been charged with marshalling the midfield just behind Chelsea's creative three.

For Saints, Hughes has handed starts to Charlie Austin and Shane Long going forward and they will be given further support by Mario Lemina, who has been declared fit to play late on here.

Oriol Romeu starts in midfield alongside Pierre-Emile Kordt Hojbjerg in the centre, allowing for both Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand to try and exploit any space down the flanks.

Chelsea have endured a strange campaign that has seen them put up a rather limp defence of their Premier League crown. Conte's charges currently sit in fifth place and look destined to miss out on Champions League qualification.

Tottenham Hotspur's slip-ups in the league of late have potentially opened just a very slight gap for Chelsea to exploit. The Blues' win over Burnley on Thursday has now moved the club to within five points of fourth place.

The FA Cup remains the final chance for Conte to earn some silverware this season as it looks increasingly likely that he will depart during the summer break. The coach has arguably made far too many political statements with his side this term to be able to rekindle any sort of title-challenging working relationship with some officials at the club.

The Blues come up against Southampton with an impressive record when taking part in the FA Cup in the crucial latter stages. Chelsea have won 11 of their last 14 FA Cup semi-final appearances.

The tournament has often proven a welcome reprieve for Conte in terms of showings and results. The Blues have actually kept clean sheets in three of their five ties en-route to the semi-finals today.

Willian has been an outstanding performer for Chelsea in recent years. The Brazilian has contributed to 10 goals in 10 FA Cup matches since the start of last season. The playmaker has six goals and four assists across that period.

Giroud has proven effective for Conte off the bench in recent weeks. The former Arsenal frontman also has an exemplary record in the cup. Giroud has played a part in 21 goals in 25 FA Cup appearances since moving to England in 2013. The striker has 14 goals and seven assists to his name during that time.

The French forward was influential when the clubs meet just a week ago in the Premier League. Southampton moved into a 2-0 lead before a Giroud brace and Eden Hazard inspired a 3-2 comeback win down on the south coast.

Chelsea have won the FA Cup seven times in their history. The club last won the showpiece during the 2011-12 season under the stewardship of Roberto Di Matteo, who famously also went on to win the Champions League with the Blues.

Looking at Hughes and his men, Saints find themselves in a real hole down in the bottom three of the Premier League and are facing a mounting struggle to stave off relegation from the top flight of English football this season.

Southampton hold 18th spot in the standings and are four points adrift of currently-safe Swansea City, who also hold a game in hand over Saints.

Sparkie took charge of his first Southampton game during the quarter-finals of this tournament, where Saints beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 away from home to move into the final four of the competition.

The club have only conceded one goal in the whole of the tournament this term, Salomon Rondon registering when Saints beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 in the fifth round. They have scored six goals on this cup run, all scored by different players in the side.

Southampton will be carrying the baggage of last weekend's defeat to Chelsea. Hughes and his charges moved into a 2-0 lead only to be beaten by three goals in the final 20 minutes at St Mary's. Saints may also be haunted by the ghosts of last season when they were undone by a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Wembley in the final of the League Cup against United.

Ignoring the club's final-day clash with Manchester City, Southampton have three fixtures that are winnable going into the end of the Premier League season and one of those comes against Swansea too. This tournament might be seen as a distraction by some, but it could also be a massive confidence booster for the club should they somehow get beyond Chelsea this afternoon.

Hughes comes into the game with a rather poor record when managing in FA Cup semis. The coach has lost both of his previous two FA Cup semi-finals as a boss, losing to both Arsenal and Chelsea.

The manager has mixed fortunes in the competition too. Hughes saw Southampton past Wigan in the last round, but also managed Stoke City to a defeat at the hands of League Two outfit Coventry City in the third round of the cup.

Saints have won the FA Cup just once and that came in 1976. Southampton have lost five of their seven previous visits to Wembley in all competitions in recent years. They did prove victorious when they won the 2010 Football League Trophy, though.

Coming into the clash, Conte has insisted that he is demanding a strong finish from his players: "We must have great motivation to finish the season as strong as possible. Now we have this chance to play at Wembley, we have the possibility to win the game against Southampton and play an important final for the second time in a row. We have to try to do our best."

As for Hughes, he has insisted that he is fully focused on the cup despite the club's current league predicament: "It's not every season you get the opportunity to get to a major cup final. It's the greatest cup competition in the world in my view. In some people's minds maybe the competition has been diminished since the emergence of the Champions League and Premier League, but to be involved in major cup finals is where you make your mark in the game and it's where you need to be. It's an opportunity to get to a major final and we are going there to make sure we don't let it pass by."

Looking at the statistics, Southampton have an effective record against Blues in the cup. Saints have progressed from four of their previous five FA Cup ties against Chelsea. The last time they met in the competition in 2012-13, however, Chelsea won 5-1 in the third round.

Chelsea will be hoping to secure a sixth straight victory against Southampton in all competitions today. The clubs have actually produced a notable 12 goals in their last three league meetings.

PREDICTION! Both sides come into the fixture having played as recently as Thursday - Chelsea beating Burnley and Saints drawing to Leicester City. Southampton gave Chelsea a lot of trouble over 70 minutes last weekend and that will give them hope here today. A number of these Chelsea players know how to get things done at crucial times, though. Conte's charges might just have a little too much for Southampton. I'm backing the Blues to move into the final with a 2-1 win.

Here's a quick glimpse of some of the Chelsea players warming up a little earlier. It's a lovely afternoon bathed in sunshine at Wembley:

Getting ready for kick-off! 💪 #CHESOU pic.twitter.com/sNiLmKrnrW — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 22, 2018

The players are now out on the pitch and we'll be underway very shortly...

KICKOFF! We are moving at Wembley. Southampton get things going, kicking from left to right in red and white stripes. As you would expect, Chelsea are in all blue.

Busy as you would expect from Long early on as he charges down Cahill and forces the defender into a rushed clearance. Plenty of early energy here from Saints.

Southampton get the first chance to move through midfield as Tadic tries to play Hojbjerg in after a run down the left channel, but Kante is across early to put out the fire on the edge of the Chelsea box.

Chelsea have just started to keep the ball inside the Southampton half and are moving possession with an element of control. Azpilicueta aims to cross into the box from the right, but Bednarek makes the block.

SHOT! Giroud drops deep to feed the run of Hazard towards the edge of the box, where the Belgian opens up from distance to send a rasping drive just inches over the crossbar with McCarthy looking beaten.

CROSSBAR! Lightning from the Blues... Hazard picks up the ball and drives right through the heart of midfield before feeding a pass into the feet of Willian on the right side of the box. The playmaker comes inside and crashes a shot off bar that completely does McCarthy for pace.

Willian causes more problems now as he picks up possession on the right and drives beyond his marker to the byline. The Brazilian almost skips beyond Yoshida, only to lose his footing at the vital moment, allowing Southampton to hoof clear.

Worrying signs already for Saints with Chelsea growing into this contest dangerously. Southampton have started to edge a little deeper inside their own half following those speed-driven threats from Hazard and Willian.

BLOCK! The stuff that medals should be given out for... Hazard is the instigator again as he wrong foots two men and lays off the ball to Fabregas. The midfielder returns the ball to his teammate in the middle of the area, leaving Yoshida to make a crucial block as Hazard gets his shot away.

It's Kante this time who pushes towards the box and he wins a free kick off Bednarek right on the edge of the area. Willian or Hazard?

Willian gets the nod to take it and he steps up to bend an effort that has just enough whip, although there's too much height on the ball leaving the shot to sail over McCarthy's crossbar.

Southampton need to get a foothold in the game as Chelsea are already threatening to run riot in this first half. Saints are some way off the issues they caused the Blues in the Premier League last weekend.

More counter attacking from the Blues when Willian picks up the ball in midfield and goes galloping past a number of bodies. The Brazilian perhaps forces the issue a little too much with a speculative through-ball for Giroud, allowing Yoshida to read well and make the interception.

Moses tries to stretch the play with a smart run down the inside right channel. Fabregas aims to pick him out but doesn't quite get his angles right and Southampton are left to reclaim possession. Chelsea are probing with intent after 20-odd minutes.

Southampton just have not kept the ball well enough in this first half. Even from throw-ins the Saints have given up the ball far too easily. Hughes has every right to be annoyed at this start.

SHOT! Hazard is dispossessed just inside his own half and the ball is threaded into the path of Lemina. The Gabon international gets his head up to drive an effort at goal, where Caballero saves with comfort.

Chelsea have dropped off slightly and it looks as though they might just be trying to give Southampton a little bit of the ball to strengthen their countering options. Nothing in front of goal since that standout block from Yoshida, though...

Nice work from Saints as they win the ball on the edge of their own box before a long ball is sent for Long to chase. The frontman puts real pressure on Rudiger, who manages to get the ball back to Caballero with his knee.

OUCH! Chelsea test Southampton with a corner now and McCarthy makes a mess of his catch under pressure. The ball is eventually worked into the feet of Willian, who drives a shot straight into the face of poor old Cedric. That looked painful, but a great block nonetheless.

The Blues continue to probe and win a corner over on the left thanks to Giroud. Willian drills towards the front post, where Azpilicueta's flick-on goes flying across the face of goal without any Chelsea player deciding to gamble on it.

No real response as yet from Saints, who have thrown a few long balls into Austin and Long, but there does not really seem a plan beyond that, not even with bodies following up for the second ball.

Finally Southampton give the ball to Bertrand down the left flank, although his ball into the middle is turned away at the front post by Azpilicueta without any trouble.

This half is Chelsea's for the taking if they want it, the Blues have not created too much after a bright opening and that's against a Southampton side who are showing very little ambition going forward.

CHANCE! Fabregas lifts the ball into Giroud who chooses not to go at it with his head. At the second attempt, the Frenchman opts for an acrobatic volley that goes sailing over McCarthy's bar.

Chelsea scamper down the left as Emerson is slipped into space. Hazard moves towards the front post but the full-back opts to lift it to the back one, where Southampton are to clear without any pressure.

Chelsea find themselves queuing up on the edge of the Saints box to try and unlock the defence. Hazard then decided to wind up an effort that is well blocked by Hoedt.

We are going to have no added time in this first period. Chelsea have not conceded a foul at all in this first half!

Hmmm, quite the contrast to yesterday's semi-final at Wembley... Chelsea started this contest brightly but have faded slightly going forward. Southampton have offered very little in the game but still find themselves with parity.

Willian and Hazard have been the standouts thus far and look the most likely of making something happen for the Blues. Southampton have failed to use their frontmen at all and have been poor when they've had their very limited spells of possession.

Hughes might be the happier of the two bosses, really. Southampton have soaked up a lot of pressure and have only looked troubled on the odd occasion. Having said that, to win this semi-final they will need to go out and affect the game at some point.

SECOND HALF! Chelsea get us back moving again at Wembley...

You will not see a better finish than this in a while. Fabregas drives the ball forward into Hazard on the edge of the box, who the slips the round the corner to Giroud. Anyone else would strike this first time, but the striker dummies once, and then twice, to outdo two defender before flicking the ball beyond McCarthy with the outside of his right foot.

What a start to this half... Willian breaks away on the halfway line to release Hazard down the left. The Belgian open up on his right and curls a teasing effort just wide of the far post.

YELLOW CARD! Giroud has an outstanding record in the FA Cup. The frontman now has 22 goals in the tournament. Romeu goes into the book for a poor lunge on Hazard.

That goal should really open up this contest now. Southampton have to do something in this second period after going a goal behind. Chelsea will be licking their collective lips on the break...

CHANCE! Southampton should be level. A ball gets threaded into the feet of Austin from the left and he steps over the ball with a beautiful dummy. Possession runs clean through to Long who breaks clear of the defence, only for a poor touch to see the striker fumble his lines when trying to round Caballero.

YELLOW CARD! Hazard leads a charge away from his box on the break, leaving Lemina to pull the Belgian down cynically before going into the referee's book.

Giroud is down on the deck at the moment in some difficult after he is tackled by Romeu. It's a wonderful challenge from the midfielder but he has caught the striker who seems to be in a lot of pain at the moment.

Almost... It's Hazard again who shows blistering footwork to beat a man and charge through the middle of the Southampton half. He soon shifts the play into Giroud who then tries to feed Willian, but Soares makes a fine interception to stop the Brazilian from gathering the loose ball.

Southampton have shown more confidence in this second half but are still falling short on the quality as things stand. Caballero comes off his line to punch clear under pressure from Long.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Southampton make two changes as Tadic and Redmond replace Long and Hojbjerg. For Chelsea, Willian is removed in place of Tiemoue Bakayoko. Chelsea fans are not happy and are making their feelings well known here. Boos ring out around the Blue end of Wembley. In fact, Willian walks straight down the tunnel.

YELLOW CARD! Hazard is just a little too quick on his feet for Hoedt, who goes into the book after a poor lunge on the Chelsea playmaker.

Southampton make use of Bertrand down the left as he is picked out by Tadic. The resulting cross is a poor one though and Chelsea are left to clear at the back post.

Saints whip a corner into the middle and there are huge shouts for handball off Giroud, but the referee gives another corner kick. The next set piece is cleared at the front post by Bakayoko.

Southampton are enjoying a decent spell in possession now and those changes appear to have had a positive impact on Saints.

SAVE! How has this stayed out? Redmond drives straight at Caballero and the ball somehow squirms under his body before going out for a corner. Moments later, Caballero fumbles the ball seemingly over his own line under pressure from Austin, only for the referee to give a free kick in the keeper's favour.

SAVE! Chelsea sense the danger and aim to push further ahead. Hazard drives into space and sends a thunder shot towards the top corner, where McCarthy leaps to lift the ball over the ball with a wonderful save.

CLOSE! Hazard has been outstanding. He moves down the right this time and drives towards the back post, where Yoshida flicks the ball up and over the bar, somehow managing to not concede an own goal in the process.

SUBSTITUTION: A final change for Southampton now as Bednarek is pulled off and replaced by Manolo Gabbiadini.

SUBSTITUTION: A change for Chelsea now. Goalscorer Giroud comes off for Alvaro Morata in attack.

Game over you would think... Azpilicueta is able to cross from deep on the right and he is able to pick out Morata at the back post. The substitute rises above Soares to head beyond McCarthy having been on the pitch for 86 seconds.

OFF THE POST! Now that would have turned the ending on its head... The ball is drilled across the face of goal to Austin at the back post, but his shot comes back off the far stick.

SAVE! That could have been a brace for Morata who peels off his marker and latches onto a ball forward from deep. McCarthy's reads well, however, as he comes off his line to smother.

You have to feel for Southampton slightly, they have played well in this second half but have not got the rub of the green in the closing moments of this game...

We are going to have five minutes of additional time here...

Chelsea appear content just to slow this game down now as they see out victory.

Hazard drives forward and buys a smart free kick off Romeu, that should be time up now...

A deserved win for Chelsea then as Conte's charges march into the final. The Blues will take on Manchester United at Wembley next month. That's going to be all from me this afternoon, thanks for joining us!