Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has several key selection decisions to make as the Blues prepare to face Swedish side Djurgarden in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final tonight.
While Chelsea are heavy favourites to reach the final in Wroclaw next month, Maresca is carefully managing squad rotation amid the dual demands of European success and the Premier League’s top-five race.
With newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool set to visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Maresca may be tempted to rest key players for the domestic showdown.
However, he previously showed his willingness to go strong in Europe, notably fielding a full-strength side in the quarter-final second leg against Legia Warsaw despite holding a 3-0 first-leg advantage.
The Blues will be without goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and forward Christopher Nkunku, both of whom stayed in London to recover from minor injuries.
Romeo Lavia, who made his return to the starting lineup in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Everton at the weekend, is ineligible for European competition after being left out of the squad list earlier this season.
Wesley Fofana and Marc Guiu remain unavailable due to longer-term injuries, while Maresca has called up youth prospects Ted Curd, Reggie Walsh, and Shim Mheuka to bolster the squad for the trip to Sweden.
Tyrique George is expected to retain his place in the starting eleven, with Nicolas Jackson likely leading the line after breaking his goal drought against Everton.
With form building and silverware within reach, Chelsea will aim to take control of the tie early, even as eyes begin to shift toward their massive clash with Liverpool on the domestic front.
