Chelsea have already secured progress in Europe’s elite competition. However, the outcomes tonight will determine whether that means a top-eight place and passage to the Round of 16, or additional play-off matches next month.

Generally, the higher a club finishes in the table the more things are stacked in their favour – see UEFA’s regulations for more details.

The world champions are one of eight teams (placed sixth to 13th) who are tied on 13 points – the Blues having the third-best goal difference of the octet.

The two with superior goal difference, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle, face off tonight in the French capital.

Teams tied in the table on points are separated first by goal difference, then goals scored, away goals scored, number of wins, away wins or, finally, alphabetical order.

The draw for the play-off ties in February will take place from 11am UK time on Friday 30 January.

Our opponents Napoli are currently in 25th position in the table, having drawn 1-1 in Denmark to ten-man Copenhagen last week. The top 24 teams advance.

On Sunday, former Blues boss Antonio Conte saw his defending Serie A champions humbled 3-0 in a six-pointer at Juventus.

The same day, Chelsea were impressive 3-1 winners at Crystal Palace, regaining fifth place in the Premier League.

The return to Italy comes seven weeks after the Blues were leading at Atalanta only to lose 2-1. Now Liam Rosenior’s revitalised side will target a fifth win in six matches on all fronts.

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Chelsea team news

Cole Palmer has travelled with the Chelsea squad after missing our previous two matches due to a thigh issue. Filip Jorgensen is also with the group, having missed our victory over Crystal Palace with a minor knock sustained against Pafos.

Romeo Lavia trained with his team-mates ahead of the Champions League clash, but hasn't made the trip to Naples as he return from injury continues to be carefully managed.

'Romeo is an outstanding player and has the potential and ability to be a world-class midfield player when he's back and if he stays fit,' said Rosenior at his pre-match press conference. 'So we're taking it really, really carefully with him.

'He has to clear a few more hurdles to train fully, but it's great to see him back with the players today. I know his qualities and I know what he can bring if we can keep him fit. I'm very excited to work with him.'

Chelsea vs Napoli – the history

This is Chelsea’s 31st match against Italian opponents. The Blues and Napoli have only been drawn together once previously – during the Blues’ famous march to glory in the 2011/12 Champions League.

The pair met in the Round of 16 in February 2012, with the first leg in Campania. Andre Villas-Boas’ side took the lead through Juan Mata but then looked all over the place as the hosts struck back through Edinson Cavani and an Ezequiel Lavezzi brace.

Petr Cech’s saves and Ashley Cole’s goal-line clearance kept the score down and meant Mata’s away goal would prove vital.

Three weeks later it was all change at Stamford Bridge, Villas-Boas replaced at the helm by 1997 FA Cup heroes Roberto Di Matteo and Eddie Newton.

The re-energised team produced one of the elite competition’s great fightbacks, though Didier Drogba’s goal was all that separated the teams at the break.

John Terry headed a second straight after play resumed but Gokhan Inler’s volley briefly silenced a pulsating atmosphere in response for the Neapolitans.

Twenty minutes later, Frank Lampard made it 3-1 from the penalty spot and the Blues continued to press into extra time, securing a quarter-final slot after right-back Branislav Ivanovic swept home Drogba’s cross.

Know this…

While beating Pafos last time out the Londoners achieved our highest-ever Champions League passing accuracy on record (since 2003/04) – 94.5 per cent.

Only two of the Blues’ previous 13 European trips to Italy have ended in victory (3 draws, 8 losses).

Chelsea have the sixth-best defensive record in this season’s Champions League, conceding just eight times.

Napoli are the only club in this competition to have scored no goals from open play.

Scott McTominay has scored the most headed goals of any Serie A player across all competitions this season.

The Partenopei have conceded first nine times this season across all competitions and come back to win once.

Enzo Fernandez is the joint second-most fouled player (16) in Europe’s elite competition behind Qarabag’s Matheus Silva (23).