Chelsea welcomes back its defensive lynchpin and its midfield dynamo for Saturday's match against Everton as the reigning champions look to halt an alarming winless run that has cost them top spot in the English Premier League.
Chelsea is winless in three matches and has picked up just four points from a possible 15 in its last five games, but the return this weekend of John Terry and Michael Essien will boost Carlo Ancelotti's stuttering side.
"We have dropped too many points recently," said Terry, the team's inspirational center back and captain. "Looking back only two or three weeks ago, we were so many points clear and in the goal difference as well - now both gaps have been closed.
"We need to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later."
The Blues' 14-week stint at the summit came to an end last weekend when they drew 1-1 at Newcastle, allowing Manchester United to take over the lead by two points.
United's match at Blackpool on Saturday was called off on Friday because of a frozen pitch, meaning Chelsea or third-place Arsenal - which is also on 29 points and hosts Fulham this weekend - can go top with a win.
Terry has missed Chelsea's last three league matches because of a sciatic nerve problem and the team's previously obdurate defense has looked vulnerable as a result. The England international should replace Alex, who is set to undergo surgery in his native Brazil on a knee injury that will rule him out for eight weeks.
Ghana star Essien has served his three-match suspension and will be back in a midfield that has looked lightweight in his and Frank Lampard's absence in recent weeks. Lampard, who has been sidelined since August while he recovers from hernia surgery, is still out.
Chelsea's attackers have also struggled for form while their side's lead has been whittled down but striker Didier Drogba expects a turnaround this weekend.
"It is not quite how we want it to be, but last year we had a similar run and we managed to sort it out and this year I think it will be the same again," said the Ivory Coast international, whose last goal in the league came against Arsenal at the start of October.
"The season is still long and for sure those teams will make some mistakes. I hope we will have a good run of wins."
Everton is without a win in five matches and has dropped to fifth from bottom, two points above the relegation zone.
A raft of lower-league football matches and other sporting events scheduled in England this weekend have been postponed due to the freezing temperatures sweeping the country, but Blackpool-United is the only match in the Premier League program to be called off.
The decision was made following an inspection of the playing surface at Bloomfield Road by match referee Peter Walton.
"Mr. Walton expressed concern that the severely affected areas of the playing surface would not thaw sufficiently for the game to be completed," Blackpool said in a statement.
Bloomfield Road doesn't have under-soil heating and stadium staff had been using hot-air blowers to try to thaw the pitch after temperatures in the northwest region dipped to -8 degrees Celsius (18 F) on Thursday night.
Arsenal is again without injured captain Cesc Fabregas when it plays Fulham and fourth-place Manchester City is at home to Bolton in a derby match.
Saturday's other matches see Birmingham host fifth-place Tottenham, Wolverhampton Wanderers go to Blackburn and Stoke travel to Wigan.
On Sunday, West Bromwich Albion hosts Newcastle and Sunderland is home to bottom club West Ham.
Gerard Houllier returns to the club he managed from 1998-2004 when his new club Aston Villa visits Liverpool on Monday.
