Chelsea will be looking to take another step closer to the Premier League title when they host Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
With Manchester City not in action until Monday, victory over a Stoke side who lost their last two matches prior to the international break would see the Blues open up a nine-point gap between them and the champions.
Chelsea
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They are not exactly romping to the title, but the engravers would be fairly safe putting Chelsea's name on the trophy now.
Six points clear and with a game in hand on City and Arsenal below them, Jose Mourinho's side are unlikely to throw away a first league championship since 2009-10 from here.
Although they are not producing the authoritative performances that they did early in the season, the Blues are unbeaten in nine league games following their 3-2 victory at Hull City.
Loic Remy came off the bench to score the winning goal after Chelsea had thrown away a two-goal lead in the space of two minutes, proving that Mourinho has options beyond the 14 or 15 players that he has entrusted regularly this term.
It is perhaps his reluctance to rotate which has left Chelsea appearing fatigued and flat in the final part of the season, although Eden Hazard continues to shine and he finds himself among the favourites for PFA Player of the Year.
Both he and Diego Costa, who is expected to shake off an injury to start against the Potters, have scored twice in their last three games and should provide the Londoners with the energy and goals that they need to get over the line.
Recent form: WWDWDW
Recent form (all competitions): DWWDDW
Stoke
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It has been another season of progress for the Potters under Mark Hughes, although injuries are threatening their chances of posting a best ever Premier League points total.
They are hoping to surpass the 50 points and ninth-place finish that they achieved in the Welshman's debut campaign last term and currently sit 10th in the table, on 42 points with eight games of the season remaining.
However, they have had to contend with a series of defensive injuries of late, while Chelsea loanee Victor Moses joining Bojan on the sidelines has left their attack a little short of sparkle in their last two defeats.
On their last away day, they were unable to break down a West Bromwich Albion side which former manager Tony Pulis had typically organised, and they surrendered the lead to lose at home to Crystal Palace prior to the international break.
While they have recently dropped two places in the table, Stoke supporters have reason for optimism ahead of their trip to the capital, having already knocked off Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this season.
Another scalp of a top-seven side would take them towards their 50-point target and perhaps even open up the title race slightly.
Recent form: LWWWLL
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWLL
Team News
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Chelsea expect Costa to be fit to start after he withdrew from international duty with Spain to rest his muscle strain. That would mean Remy, who has more goals than starts this term, having to make do with a place among the substitutes once more.
Joining him will be Petr Cech, whose future at Stamford Bridge is looking increasingly unclear. Reports this week claimed that the club have agreed to allow him to leave in the summer after Thibaut Courtois made the goalkeeping spot his own.
John Obi Mikel is Mourinho's only senior absentee, and therefore the Portuguese could revert to the team which he has stuck with for most of the season, with Oscar replacing Ramires and Cesc Fabregas dropping deeper in midfield.
Former Chelsea striker Hughes could welcome Phil Bardsley and Philipp Wollscheid, both of whom featured throughout a recent three-game winning run, to his defence at the expense of Marc Wilson and Geoff Cameron.
Glenn Whelan will be restored to stiffen things up in the centre of the park, with Stephen Ireland likely to be sacrificed. Peter Crouch could also be dropped to make room for Jonathan Walters in an attack which is missing Bojan, Moses and Peter Odemwingie.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Costa
Stoke possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Bardsley, Wollscheid, Shawcross, Pieters; Whelan, N'Zonzi; Arnautovic, Adam, Diouf; Walters
Head To Head
Chelsea have won their last three matches against Stoke without conceding, including December's 2-0 victory at the Britannia Stadium courtesy of goals from John Terry and Cesc Fabregas.
The Potters have not scored at Stamford Bridge since Rory Delap's 2009 goal seven visits ago. They last won at Chelsea in a League Cup tie in 1996 and have not done so in the top flight since 1974.
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We say: Chelsea 2-0 Stoke
Although Stoke have pulled off a few upsets on the road this season, they are missing key players in attacking positions and may find it difficult to cause a Chelsea side who are unbeaten at home too many problems. Two-nil has been a popular result for the Blues this term and could be the score come full time this weekend.
Joe Fish
