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In the fifth Premier League game of his career, Antonio Conte is set to make a change to the starting lineup that does not involve only the right winger.
In the previous four games to this point, the lineup had been 90 per cent set, with Chelsea basically playing the same starting eleven (minus one Fabregas; plus one Kante) as we did for the majority of the title-winning 2014-15 campaign. Only Willian's knock in the first game caused changes, with Pedro taking over for the match against Watford.
Given the success so far, it's perhaps unsurprising that it's only due to another injury that the lineup will experience a small re-shuffle. Fortunately, David Luiz is back from his two-year sojourn in Paris and ready to deputize for John Terry's strained, swollen, (and slow) ankle ligaments. Our Champions League final-winning center back pairing will thus be reunited for the special Friday night occasion.
The rest of the lineup quite literally picks itself. With a midweek cup tie coming up, there's even less of a chance of frivolous rotation than there'd be otherwise.
4-1-4-1/4-3-3:
Courtois | Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Ivanovic | Kante | Hazard, Matic, Oscar, Willian | Costa
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The community is in full agreement as far as the preferred choice goes, with Nemanja Matic edging out Cesc Fabregas by a couple percentage points for the final spot in the starting lineup.
4-1-4-1/4-3-3:
Courtois | Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Ivanovic | Kante | Hazard, Matic, Oscar, Willian | Costa