Strategy: Chelsea will not deviate from the formula which has yielded such success this season, regardless of the stature of their opponents. Expect Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka to lead the line as usual, with Michael Essien acting as the defensive screen in front of the back four. The only question for Ancelotti is who can replace Frank Lampard, whose promising run of form was stopped dead in its tracks by a thigh injury sustained while on England duty in Qatar. There is no shortage of candidates, with Deco or Florent Malouda likely to partner Michael Ballack in the middle of the midfield diamond.

Injury Update: Ashley Cole and Joe Cole were both involved in full training this week, despite being left out of England's squad for their friendly meeting with Brazil last weekend. The left back is almost certain to start at Stamford Bridge, although his namesake may have to settle for a place on the bench. The only other absentee is Jose Bosingwa, who has been ruled out for four months after being told he needs surgery on a knee injury.

 
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS:
McCarthy and his players spent nine months last season slogging their way out of the Championship for the right to play matches such as this. So you won't find the Wolves manager moaning about the daunting prospect of facing the team he feels are Premier League "champions elect."
 
McCarthy has spent the two weeks since the 4-1 defeat by Arsenal playing the role of spin doctor at Molineux - talking up the fact that his side have no reason to fear entering Ancelotti's fortress. Glossing over nine successive home clean sheets for Chelsea and the fact the leaders have gone 872 minutes without conceding a goal is the kind of politicking that would not go amiss in the House of Commons, but his positive thoughts will be matched by positive action.
 
McCarthy, not unreasonably, argues Wolves' Premier League future will not be decided by results against the top four this season and facing such vastly superior opponents is an opportunity to learn for the more important games ahead, against any number of rivals that can be considered relegation candidates.
 
Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers and Burnley are next up and McCarthy said: "Why not be positive. We will always try to be positive. My players will improve for coming up against these teams and hopefully that will enable us to do better against sides around us in the table.
 
"We worked very hard to get into the Premier League and now we are here, we are not finding out anything that we did not already know. We knew how hard it was going to be. Arsenal are the best footballing team in the league and Chelsea are the best team. Arguably they are champions elect, but Manchester United will have something to say about that."
 
Strategy: Many would opt for damage limitation, especially as a "having their backsides slapped," as McCarthy puts it, could seriously endanger morale at Molineux, but he attacked and pressed Arsenal with some joy for 30 minutes and he will do the same here, although the thought of Christophe Berra and Jody Craddock having to contain Drogba inspires fear of Freddy Kruger dimensions.

Kevin Doyle, if he has recovered from the Republic of Ireland agony in Paris, may be asked to drop deeper when Chelsea are in possession to create a five-man midfield, leaving Sylvain Ebanks-Blake as the lone forward and much of Wolves' attacking threat is likely to centre on set pieces.
 
Injury Update: Chris Iwelumo, the Scotland international will be missing until the New Year because of a fractured metatarsal. Matt Murray, Kevin Foley, David Jones and Stephen Ward are all at various stages of recovery from knee injuries.