Plenty of debuts are expected as Xabi Alonso leads Chelsea into a first public pre-season friendly of the summer, facing Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia.
The Blues have enjoyed victories in two behind-closed-doors friendlies already this season, but are now down under and prepared to play under the scrutiny of fans and media.
They are believed to have employed a 4-2-3-1 system in both of those matches, and Alonso is expected to use the same system again here.
There are a few players in line for debuts down under, chief among them the summer signing Marco Palestra. Emanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda might have hoped for the same, but were left in London after picking up knocks.
Alonso has brought enough players to use a unique XI in either half against Sydney and will likely use a blend of youth and experience.
Jorrel Hato is expected to serve as Chelsea’s first-choice left-back this season and should get the start here, with Palestra opposite. Alonso will be keen to get minutes in the legs of Levi Colwill after he missed most of last season with an ACL injury, while Aaron Anselmino is due a try-out after impressing in loan spells at Borussia Dortmund and Strasbourg last season.
Romeo Lavia is in a similar position to Colwill and could do with some minutes, while Reggie Walsh is thought to have impressed Alonso in training this summer. He is also due a chance to impress, though Dario Essugo may be preferred in defensive midfield.
Jamie Gittens missed long stretches last season with a hamstring problem but has impressed in behind-closed-doors matches this summer. He will hope to continue that goalscoring form at the Accor Stadium. Estevao has also returned and will start opposite him.
Cole Palmer will line up in the No10, with Joao Pedro up top.
The highly-rated Kazakh striker Dastan Satpayev arrived this summer will hope for a chance to impress, as will Omari Kellyman and a number of other youngsters in the squad.
British-record signing Morgan Rogers is yet to join up with the squad, so too are most of those players who played at the World Cup, including Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah and Pedro Neto.
Chelsea predicted XI vs Western Sydney Wanderers (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Hato, Colwill, Anselmino, Palestra; Lavia, Walsh; Gittens, Palmer, Estevao; Joao Pedro
Injured: Emegha, Quenda
Time and date: 10.45am BST on Tuesday, July 28
Venue: Accor Stadium
