There will be as much focus off the pitch as there will be on it at Stamford Bridge this afternoon. Part of the reason for that is cameras will be scanning furiously for any sign of Wesley Fofana, who Chelsea have agreed to sign for an initial £70million from today's opponents Leicester City.
And the other factor is Thomas Tuchel will not be in the dugout as he serves a one-game touchline ban. Instead, the Chelsea head coach will have to take a seat in the East Stand and watch on from above. He said: "We have figured out where I will be: it will be above the dugout on the first level but close to the changing rooms. So they are easy to reach"
Tuchel will still be able to undertake his other coaching duties. He will deliver the pre-match team talk, give words of encouragement if needed at the interval, and undertake his usual post-match media duties. He will also, of course, pick the starting XI and there are several important decisions to be made across the team.
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After his mistake against Leeds last weekend, there have been calls for Edouard Mendy to be dropped from the starting XI. That is almost certainly not going to happen as the Senegal international still has plenty of credit in the bank with Tuchel given his performances since the German arrived.
It's in defence where the big decisions have to be made. With no Kalidou Koulibaly, who is suspended following his red card at Elland Road, Tuchel will be forced into a reshuffle that will likely see Marc Cucurella shift into the left centre-back position. Thiago Silva will take up his spot in the middle and Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to return on the right.
That would free up Reece James to play at right wing-back. The England international is shackled when utilised as a central defender, something that was evident when he shifted into a wide role in the draw with Tottenham Hotspur. On the opposite flank, Ben Chilwell will come back into the side at left wing-back.
Jorginho will keep his spot in central midfield but who partners the Italian international is difficult to predict. N'Golo Kante is ruled out with a hamstring injury while Tuchel believes Mateo Kovacic is only fit enough to feature in the latter stages against the Foxes, as the German explained in his pre-match press conference.
"Kova is back in the group and ready to play some 20 minutes," Tuchel said. "We miss him as a personality, his experience and his quality. It was his first training week without a reaction in the knee so we cannot rush things otherwise we will just sabotage our own plans with him. We need him long-term. It’s good to have him back and as an option on the bench."
The other options that Tuchel can turn to in central midfield are Conor Gallagher, who struggled with Leeds' press last weekend, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has played at right wing-back so far this season. Neither are perhaps perfect fits but it's likely Tuchel goes with the latter.
Chelsea's attack has misfired so far this season with no goals scored among the front three of Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling. However, with Armando Broja having only returned to first-team training on Thursday, it's likely Tuchel goes with the trio once more.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Cucurella; James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Havertz, Sterling.
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