The international fixtures have taken a toll on the squad to face Wolves, with a knock-on effect that brings young players into Carlo Ancelotti's selection.

The manager has ruled Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Deco and Michael Ballack out of Saturday's match.

Ancelotti is anticipating being able to call upon all but Lampard from that the quartet in Porto on Wednesday. Deco is expected to overcome a groin niggle suffered last weekend in Portugal's first match and Ballack has a small knee problem but nothing serious.

Drogba has been able to train but this weekend needs to avoid physical contact on his ribs, bruised by Man United's Jonny Evans.

'It was not a good situation and I think that the referee hasn't seen this because if he saw it would be yellow card for Evans and not for Drogba,' argued Ancelotti. 'But this is an old problem and we must think about other things.'

That thinking involves creating a Chelsea side capable of maintaining the five-point lead at the top of the league.

To that end, Ashley Cole is available and Ancelotti will be dipping into the reserve squad to complete the 18 players who will be involved on Saturday.

'Ashley Cole has trained very well for two weeks, he is over his problem and for him it was very good to stay here for two weeks.

'Now our aim is to maintain players fit and in good condition. This is our aim for the future. We have play also without African players in January but we don't want to take a player on loan for this period.

'We have young players, we can use them in that period. I want to use young players on the bench and if it is possible I can put them on the pitch.

'Tomorrow we have Fabio Borini, Nemanja Matic and Gael Kakuta (pictured above left) on the bench.'

Kakuta will be involved in a first-team game for the first time this season. Matic, who played in midfield for Serbia Under 21s on Wednesday, was twice an unused sub in the Carling Cup.

One area of the team where Ancelotti does not need to turn to younger players is in central defence. Chelsea are looking to equal our all-time home record for successive clean sheets and the fact we are so solid does not surprise the boss.

'From the start of the season the defensive line did very well. With Alex, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, I think Chelsea has the best central defence in the world at the moment.

'It is the same level as I had at Milan. I was very happy with [Alessandro] Nesta and [Paolo] Maldini there in the past and also I am happy to train the Chelsea defenders. No-one has four central defenders with this quality. They can play in any team in the world.'

Ancelotti also had words on Wolves.

'I know them and they have played a lot of games with very good play. They have good strikers and I think Kevin Doyle tomorrow will be hungry because of what happened Wednesday with Ireland. We have to pay attention.'

Wolves Mick McCarthy is to make a late decision on whether to play Doyle after 120 minutes action against France. He will do the same with defender Ronald Zubar who has a sore thigh.