The Blues are level on points with the Magpies, and another tight encounter like the one at Stamford Bridge back in October is expected this Sunday lunchtime.

Standing up to the threat posed by Eddie Howe’s side will not be easy. The Carabao Cup winners have the best record in the league over the past 10 games. That run includes five consecutive wins on home soil in which they have scored 18 goals.

Maresca detailed the ways in which Newcastle make life so difficult for the opposition, and why continuity in selection could prove pivotal for his Chelsea team.

‘They are very aggressive, especially when we are on our side, they go man-to-man,’ noted Maresca.

‘When they are on their side, they are medium block, but physically they are very strong and aggressive. I hope [it brings out the best of us]. We have played teams who play low block and teams who try to be aggressive, we have had good games in both situations.

‘After the Liverpool game, someone said to me we played the same XI for the first time in six months,’ he continued.

‘It’s important if you can continue with the same players. Hopefully, on Sunday, we can have a good game.’

Maresca knows the midfield battle might prove decisive in determining which way the points go. His compatriot Sandro Tonali has been instrumental in Newcastle’s resurgence, but our head coach also backs his own midfielders to meet the challenge head on.

The Italian said: ‘Tonali this season has been top for Newcastle, he is doing very well. He is a fantastic player, but they have many, many good players, like Bruno Guimaraes, Josh Murphy, Joe Willock, and Joelinton who is injured.

‘They have different kinds of players who are good players, but now we have Romeo [Lavia] back, Moi [Caicedo] and Enzo [Fernandez] are doing well, Cole [Palmer] is doing well. It will be a huge game.

‘We are going to try to prepare the game in the best way, the way we think we can win, and hopefully at the end we can be happy with the result.’