Chelsea take a break from Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as they face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round.
While the Blues currently sit in fourth position in the top-flight standings, visitors Forest hold fourth place in the Championship table.
Match preview
© Reuters
While Frank Lampard had mixed feelings about his side's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on New Year's Day, the result took Chelsea's tally over the Christmas and New Year period to seven points from four fixtures.
All things considered, that is a solid return for a club whose main ambition is to finish in the top four of the Premier League table, but Lampard will naturally expect more from his squad during the second half of the campaign.
Their results at Stamford Bridge have recently come under the microscope, with defeats having been recorded against West Ham United, Bournemouth and Southampton respectively.
Those efforts have undermined the scalps which they have taken away from their West London home, leaving Lampard eager to find a solution to how sides are frequently leaving their ground with three points and a clean sheet.
Despite changes expected to be made, the Englishman is aware that his side are becoming less confident in familiar surroundings, and that factor may lead to a closely-fought encounter on Sunday.
Even though Sabri Lamouchi may also have eyes on switching up his team, the Forest boss will be delighted with three successive wins being recorded since Boxing Day.
After a five-match streak without success, triumphs over Hull City, Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers have taken the East Midlands outfit back into the playoffs.
A four-point gap has been created ahead of seventh-placed Sheffield Wednesday, potentially leaving Lamouchi to consider handing his players a deserved break ahead of the final 20 games of the campaign.
However, this also represents a window of opportunity for Forest as they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge exactly a year after being provided with the same tie last season.
Chelsea form (all competitions): WLWLWD
Nottingham Forest form (all competitions): DLLWWW
Team News
© Reuters
Michy Batshuayi is one of several Chelsea fringe players who is expected to feature at the weekend.
The Belgian should replace Tammy Abraham, while Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi are in line to come in for Willian and Christian Pulisic.
Ross Barkley could make an appearance after falling down the pecking order, while Andreas Christensen is in line to feature at centre-back.
Fikayo Tomori may partner the Dane if he shakes off a minor injury, with Tariq Lamptey possibly making his first senior start for the Blues at right-back.
As for Forest, Lamouchi could hand recalls to the likes of Carl Jenkinson and Michael Dawson, while Jack Robinson is expected to play at left-back after an injury to Chema Rodriguez.
Joao Carvalho and Albert Adomah will also be hopeful of an outing further forward.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Caballero; Lamptey, Christensen, Zouma, Palmieri; Kovacic, Barkley; Pedro, Mount, Hudson-Odoi; Batshuayi
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Samba; Jenkinson, Dawson, Worrall, Robinson; Semedo, Sow; Lolley, Carvalho, Adomah; Grabban
We say: Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Given that changes which will be made and the respective form of the two clubs, we expect this match to be close. However, the Blues may have enough quality to edge through a tight encounter.
Darren Plant
