Chelsea v Rovers

The notable absentees for Chelsea include Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. Both have a fetish for scoring against Rovers, Lampard racking up seven past us in recent years. Also missing is Wayne Bridge.

The Ukranian superstar and criminally under-used Andriy Shevchenko will replace Didier Drogba.

There were no injury problems from the internationals for Jose Mourinho to worry about.

Chelsea from: Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, A Cole, Ben Haim, Terry, Carvalho, Essien, Mikel, J Cole, Malouda, Sidwell, Pizarro, Drogba, Shevchenko, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, Lampard.

He may be criminally under-valued by his manager but there is no doubting his ability. Given the ball in the right areas and he will score. It is imperative that he isn`t afforded much time and space, allowing him to put in a heroes display.

He has lost a little pace in his advancing years but he is a world renowned goal-scorer and that is something that never goes. He is normally deployed in wide roles which would explain his disappointing form last year but on Saturday he will have the central position.

Mark Hughes has no injury worries to concern himself with; in fact there is the added bonus that Steven Reid could make the squad. He was of course the last person to score against Chelsea when Rovers beat them.

There were slight worries over Benni McCarthy, Aaron Mokoena and Roque Santa Cruz who returned late from international duty.

Rovers from: Friedel, Enckelman, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Ooijer, Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Savage, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Roberts, Tugay, Mokoena, Rigters, Khizanishvili.

He didn`t really perform against his former manager last season so he will be hoping for a different display on Saturday. He buried his first league goal of the season last time out against Manchester City and despite something of a lethargic start his smile has returned and Benni is ready to do some damage. His partnership with Santa Cruz also seems to be flourishing and I fancy they could have too much for John Terry and co at the back today.

Mark Hughes celebrates three full years in charge on Saturday. He has taken the club along way since his opening 1-0 win against Portsmouth, courtesy of a Matt Jansen goal.

Chelsea have not suffered back-to-back defeats in 43 Premier League outings since the 2 and 7 May 2006, away to Blackburn and Newcastle respectively.

The Londoners are chasing their 1,500th League win, to extend their record-breaking unbeaten home run to 66 league games.

This is currently Chelsea`s worst start to a season in five years.

Rovers have scored in each of their last 22 Premier League games.

Rovers are one of only four sides still unbeaten in the league this season.

Sound referee Howard Webb will officiate this game. In his three games to date he has issued a miserly eight yellow cards and no reds.

Inevitably, this will be a tough game and will be one by a single clear goal. However, that isn`t to say there won`t be goals. Hughes will send his troops out to attack and with renewed confidence following the start to the season and the firepower available. The story couldn`t be more different for Chelsea. They have ploddered along so far this season and have been restricted for goals by the loss of Lampard and Drogba. Rovers` physical presence could, for once be too much for Mourinho`s aggressive side. Rovers to win a thriller and take all this week`s headlines. 3-2.

Rovers are in Europe, proper, on Thursday against Larissa.

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