With Chelsea finally looking like they have found their groove under Jose Mourinho, the Blues will target a worry-free English Premier League outing at Hull City and top place in the standings on Saturday.
Where to Watch Live
The game is scheduled for a 12.45 GMT (6.15 pm IST) start with live coverage on BT Sport 1 in the UK and Star Sports 4 and Star Sports HD2 in India. The match can be live streamed online in India HERE, while UK viewers can do the same HERE or HERE. Catch the action in the US via live streaming HERE, with the same going for Australia viewers HERE. Middle East and North Africa viewers can live stream the match HERE, while the rest of Africa can do the same HERE.
Chelsea are unbeaten in five Premier League games, with the only draw coming away from home to Arsenal. With the Mourinho renowned defensive stability propping up the side, the Blues have picked up some good consistent results, which in turn have kept them just two points behind the Gunners.
A win against Hull will see Chelsea go top of the table, for at least 24 hours with Manchester City playing on Sunday, and Arsenal only in action on Monday night.
"We have a chance to win tomorrow, it's a very difficult match, I don't say that because it's a Premier League match and every match is difficult, I say that based on my analysis of Steve Bruce's work," Mourinho said on Friday.
"We have a chance to win and if we do that for a few hours we are top of the league, but as I keep saying, the most important thing is to secure a position in the top four which is very difficult for everyone.
"Just as important as that is to improve the team, improve the players, keep playing well and prepare the team for another period of success like Chelsea had between 2004 and 2012."
Chelsea will have to be at their attacking best to open up Hull, who have one of the tightest defences at the KC Stadium. Bruce's side have done pretty in their first season back in the Premier League, and the team will be buzzing after their previous result at home - a 6-0 thumping of West London side Fulham.
However, Bruce will also know a result like that will be far from possible against Chelsea; but if they can keep their defensive stability, and hit Chelsea on the counter, then the home side could very well come away with all three points.
"The one thing we're going to have to do is play well," Bruce said. "When you look at Chelsea and the team they can put out, we're going to have to defend well and pose a threat when we've got the ball.
"The quality running through the Chelsea squad is there for everybody to see and they have the outstanding manager in Mourinho.
"They're rumbling along very nicely and they're going to be there or thereabouts in every competition because they have a manager that has proven himself to be as good as there is and he's got a squad of players that, although in a little bit of transition, there's no disputing the quality.
"With Mourinho in charge, they also have that desire. We have played well in these games so far, although maybe not got the results. We've given all of them a run for their money and let's hope that continues. But we know that, on their day, these teams can come and give you a hiding so we have to be at our best."
The two sides met on the opening day of the season at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea coming out comfortable 2-0 winners, a result that Mourinho will be more than happy to repeat come Saturday.
Team news: Hull City: The Tigers have agreed a fee for Everton striker Nikica Jelavic, but the signing is yet to be completed. Defender Paul McShane has been ruled out for a month, while Sone Aluko and Matty Fryatt are sidelined. Robbie Brady, however, could make a return to the side from a groin injury.
Chelsea: Veterans Branislav Ivanovic and Frank Lampard are ruled out along with long-term injury victim Marco Van Ginkel. Left-back Ryan Bertrand is a doubt.
Key men: Hull City: The home side's back three will need to play out of their skins to prevent the Chelsea attackers from finding the back of the net.
Chelsea: Eden Hazard received plenty of praise from Mourinho on Friday, and the Belgian will want to show everyone he is indeed worthy of those kind words.
"He's progressing in everything," said Mourinho of Hazard. "He was known as one of the worst trainers; he's now become, not one of the best, but a good professional in training. He was known as having lots of quality, which he's kept, but not being very productive, and at the same time he didn't have that defensive culture, of knowing how to defend as a team.
"He now works very hard for the team, he uses his initiative in the game and he's not a player who does a fantastic action and then disappears from the game for 30 minutes. He's now trying all the time to be influential in our game.
"He has the responsibility of being a top player so knows he has to be there for his team in every match. Even at Derby, he was on the bench, he came on for the last 30 minutes and immediately you could feel he was on the pitch, so this is the kind of player we want.
"It's been a fantastic evolution for him, the next phase is to play Champions League knockout phase, which brings a lot of pressure on him because it's knockout. Also he will have the experience of playing at the World Cup, which will be fantastic for him."
Expected lineups: Hull City: Davies, Chester, Bruce; El Mohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Meyler, Figueroa; Graham, Sagbo.
Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto'o.
Prediction: 2-1 to Chelsea
