As we already know International captain's John Terry and Michael Ballack complete suspensions this afternoon, while left back Wayne Bridge left for Manchester City in a 12million move. (That's a blow for them means they might have to play Andy Cole.)
Another central defender, Alex, and left winger Florent Malouda are both injured.
This means the Chelsea manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, will give a number of lesser used players a game against Southend.
Speaking to the Chelsea official site, he said: "Many players have the chance Saturday to play because some players play 25% of games and Saturday is the time to play, three or four or five players. Belletti, Paulo Ferreira, Carlo Cudicini, Mancienne, Kalou."
Well, that's all right then. Oh, he had already ruled Didier Drogba in. Should give birthday boy Clarkey something to think about. And Macca v Lampard may be fun! (No mention of Sawyer, might make the bench.)
Scolari though does not mean to treat the game lightly: "I play with my best team for Saturday. I have some problems and ideas for training, to play, and the best team for tomorrow, maybe, only Petr Cech it's possible to play, but I say no. The other players are in very good condition. I have in mind sometimes that I need to put other players to play because if I have some problems with Petr Cech, I played before with Carlo against Middlesborough and Burnley. Now it is time for Carlo, and Petr works on specific training with (goalkeeper coach) Christophe (Lollichon) for the next game."
Big Phil also commented on team meetings held this week and made clear he believes the side will be well drilled to prepare for Southend and there will not be a repeat of the goal conceded at Fulham last weekend.
Scolari continued: "I don't have every day meetings, but after the game yes, I think not just me, all the coaches in the world (do this), but in Chelsea if you have one meeting, oh it's a terrible situation. I worked many days because it is not normal for us, (the Fulham late equaliser), if you receive the statistic for the game, Fulham had one corner kick and a goal. In the last minute of the game we had nine inside the box, and made a mistake. Now I have time to prepare and train not more mistakes as before. This season we make mistakes by corner kicks or fouls three or four times, it's very good, but I don't want three or four. I accept one or two, but four, no. We look at the last game, we made some mistakes we didn't before and know now if we follow this way too many times, we will not arrive in the finals - and it's every day we need to remember this.
The talkings done, now for the actual game.
COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!!!!