Chelsea's status as Premier League title favourites faces its biggest test of the season so far when they travel to Everton on Saturday evening.
The Blues have picked up maximum points from two fixtures against newly-promoted sides so far this term and watched as defending champions Manchester City threw down the gauntlet with a 3-1 victory over 2013-14 runners-up Liverpool on Monday.
Both North-West teams finished above Chelsea last campaign, but Jose Mourinho has groomed his 'little horse' well over the summer and admits that he expects them to be challenging for silverware come May.
Mourinho's side lost at Goodison Park in the early stages of last campaign, but new signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas should improve them in key areas and have both settled immediately at Stamford Bridge.
Costa's arrival allowed for a striker exodus from the Londoners this pre-season and they will be wary of two aggrieved former forwards coming back to haunt them on Merseyside this weekend.
Romelu Lukaku perhaps felt that he was never given a fair crack at the Chelsea first team before he was sold to Everton, where he scored 15 top-flight goals on loan last year, for £28m earlier this month.
Samuel Eto'o, who was angered by comments Mourinho made about his age during his one season at Chelsea, has joined Lukaku in swapping Blue shirts and may also believe that he has a point to prove.
The Champions League-winning striker may have to settle for a place on the bench against his former club, having only completed his free transfer to Everton on Tuesday, while Chelsea loanee Christian Atsu is ineligible.
Ross Barkley is the most high-profile absentee on a Toffees injury list which also includes Steven Pienaar, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone, but Lukaku should shake off a foot concern to lead their attack.
He played a huge role in supplying Steven Naismith with Everton's second versus Arsenal last Saturday, but Roberto Martinez's team again conceded late goals to stumble to a second straight 2-2 draw.
Naismith, who has two goals in two appearances, will once more play a supporting role to the Belgian, with either Aiden McGeady or Leon Osman coming in on the left as the hosts seek a first win this term.
Mourinho may be forced into changes, with Costa an injury doubt having picked up a "minor muscular" strain and Andre Schurrle facing a fitness test after limping off in the 2-0 win over Leicester City.
Returning hero Didier Drogba is poised for a first start of his second Chelsea spell, with £50m misfit Fernando Torres seemingly on his way to AC Milan on the same week that Angel di Maria broke his British transfer record.
Willian and Mohamed Salah are alternatives to Schurrle if the Germany World Cup star does not recover from his knock, as the Blues make the trip to a ground where they have won just once in seven attempts.
Recent form
Everton: DD
Chelsea: WW
Possible starting lineups
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas, Naismith, Osman; Lukaku
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle; Drogba
Sports Mole says: 0-2
No Data Analysis info
