Preview: Hull City vs. Chelsea

Chelsea's title challenge is picking up pace and they will climb to the top of the Premier League on Saturday if they beat Hull City at the KC Stadium.

The in-form Blues are seeking their fourth consecutive top-flight win, but Steve Bruce's men boast the division's joint-best home defensive record and thrashed Fulham 6-0 on their last outing on their own soil.

Bruce is expected to recall the majority of the first-team regulars that were rested for the FA Cup success over Middlesbrough last weekend, including freshly-trimmed midfielder Tom Huddlestone, who finally had his afro cut after ending his two-and-a-half-year goal drought against the Cottagers.

Allan McGregor, Jake Livermore, Curtis Davies, Alex Bruce, Ahmed Elmohamady and Yannick Sagbo are among the other players that could be restored to the Tigers' starting XI, but Sone Aluko and Robbie Brady remain injured.

Jose Mourinho fielded a less-changed side for their third-round trip to Championship Derby County, but is still likely to make several alterations, with Petr Cech certain to return in goal in place of Mark Schwarzer.

With Branislav Ivanovic sidelined, Ashley Cole should continue at left-back to make consecutive Premier League starts for the first time since October, while either David Luiz or John Obi Mikel will get the nod to partner Ramires in the middle of the park, with Frank Lampard missing due to a hip problem.

Mourinho will choose between Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres, rotated over the festive period, as his lone striker to face a Hull side that Chelsea have not lost to since a second-tier match in 1988.

Recent form

Hull: LWLDDD

Chelsea: WWWDWL

Possible starting lineups

Hull: McGregor; Elmohamady; Davies, Bruce, Chester, Figueroa; Huddlestone, Livermore, Meyler; Graham, Sagbo

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Torres

Sports Mole says: 0-2