The Blues welcome the Black Cats to Stamford Bridge for a rare 3pm Saturday kick-off, with our focus switching back to the Premier League after our five-star display in the Champions League in midweek.

A 5-1 victory over Ajax in Europe’s premium club competition set the tone nicely for the visit of newly-promoted but high-flying Sunderland, and Maresca confirmed at his pre-match press conference that every player came through that game unscathed.

Delap, meanwhile, has rejoined team training following a lengthy spell out with a hamstring injury sustained against Fulham in August.

‘We don’t have any new injuries for the game this weekend,’ Maresca explained. Liam is doing well. He took part in the session yesterday with the team for the first time. He isn’t going to be available for tomorrow’s game, but maybe for the next ones

‘The schedule [on when players can return] can change a little bit, it depends on whether they improve or not. Initially, we thought he might be back for October 25, but today, as you know, is October 24.

‘So, he’s not quite on that initial schedule but he’s getting closer. Possibly for the cup game next week, he could be available.'

Marc Guiu started for the Blues in our victory over Ajax and netted our first goal in the victory before being replaced by another goalscorer, Tyrique George, at half-time.

Maresca was asked whether he feels the Spaniard, who spent the early weeks of the campaign on loan at Sunderland, is ready to start against the Black Cats, to which the Italian’s answer was emphatic.

‘Absolutely, he is ready to start,’ our head coach said of Guiu.

‘Marc is a typical number nine; a physically strong, box player. Again, he can improve and do many things better and we are working with him every day to help him. He is going to play games with us, for sure.’

Guiu spent the early weeks of the season on loan with tomorrow's opponents, but the injury to Delap just before the end of the transfer window saw him recalled.

The Black Cats, to their credit, have started the campaign strongly since earning promotion from the Championship and Maresca is aware of how difficult this game will be.

‘I think they have shown since the start of the season that they are a very good team,’ Maresca said of Regis Le Bris’s side.

‘They play together, they work together and they play as a team. In terms of results, they have the same points as us, so they are showing how good they are. It’s a Premier League game, and I don’t think any game at this level is easy.’

Maresca added: 'I spent one season with Leicester in the Championship and I love the Championship. Even if we play Premier League or the Champions League, I always watch the Championship. So I watched since last season when their manager arrived.

'They play good football, are quite strong physically, so I really like how they are doing things.

‘The challenge is always the same: try to win the game knowing they want the same. They are going to try to create enough situations and a difficult situation for us.’