Chelsea v West Brom preview

Published Mar. 1, 2013 7:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rafa Benitez is likely to make sweeping changes to the starting XI he sent out for a midweek FA Cup fifth round victory over Middlesbrough when Chelsea return to Premier League action against West Brom.

Paulo Ferreira, Ryan Bertrand, Nathan Ake, Victor Moses and Yossi Benayoun are likely to be among those to make way, with Ashley Cole, David Luiz, Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard and Demba Ba pushing for recalls.

Defensive duo Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta sat out cup duty through illness and injury respectively and a decision is yet to be taken on their involvement against the Baggies.

Oriol Romeu remains the Blues' only long-term absentee, as he continues to nurse knee ligament damage.

West Brom could be without their two frontline strikers on Saturday.

On-loan Romelu Lukaku is ineligible to face his parent club, while forward partner Shane Long is a doubt with the ankle injury suffered against Sunderland and has been unable to train so far this week.

Left-back Goran Popov will complete a three-game ban for his red card against Tottenham.

Steve Clarke has included 16-year-old midfielder Isaiah Brown, who is still at school, in his squad.