Daniel Sturridge and Deco both start as Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou are moved to the subs' bench.

Deco will play in the middle behind Drogba with Sturridge and Malouda out wide.

Ricardo Carvalho returns in place of Alex; Paulo Ferreira takes over at right-back from injured Branislav Ivanovic with Yury Zhirkov on the left. Petr Cech is back in goal.

John Terry equals Ron Harris's all-time record of 324 appearances as Chelsea captain.

Portsmouth make two changes, Steve Finnan coming into defence in place of Nadir Belhadji. Richard Hughes is preferred in midfield to Quincy Owusu-Abeyie.

Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:

1 Petr Cech
19 Paulo Ferreira
6 Ricardo Carvalho
26 John Terry (c)
18 Yury Zhirkov
12 John Mikel Obi
8 Frank Lampard
23 Daniel Sturridge
20 Deco
15 Florent Malouda
11 Didier Drogba

Substitutes: 22 Ross Turnbull, 33 Alex, 43 Jeffrey Bruma, 52 Patrick van Aanholt, 10 Joe Cole, 21 Salomon Kalou, 39 Nicolas Anelka.

Portsmouth are expected to line up in the following 4-3-2-1 formation:

James (c); Mullins, Rocha, Hreidarsson, Finnan; Mokoena, Wilson, Hughes; O'Hara, Smith; Piquionne.

Substitutes: Ashdown, Vanden Borre, Basinas, Brown, Owusu-Abeyie, Webber, Kanu.

The referee is Lee Mason.

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