Chelsea will be looking to continue their good run of form on Sunday when they take on Milton Keynes Dons for the first time, in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Strength to strength
Chelsea are very much back on track after their dreadful start to the season, which saw the exit of Jose Mourinho, having gone from strength to strength since the return of interim manager Guus Hiddink.
The Blues are unbeaten in their last eight matches as they look to continue their climb up the Premier League table - currently sitting in 13th position - and this rise was boosted last week as a single goal from Diego Costa gave them the 1-0 win over high-flying Arsenal.
All focus will now turn to their trip to the Stadium MK having reached the fourth round with ease after their comfortable 2-0 win over Scunthorpe United, with Hiddink hoping for similar result.
Giant killers
MK Dons will put their troubles in the Championship aside as they look to follow in the footsteps of Bradford City and hand a giant killing to Hiddink’s side.
After promotion to the second tier of English football last season, the Dons are struggling to keep their Championship status and their survival hopes were handed a huge blow last weekend when a 3-1 defeat to bottom side Bolton Wanderers left them just two points above the relegation zone.
Despite their struggles, manager Karl Robinson is relishing the opportunity to take on the current Premier League champions, having reached this stage after a 3-0 win over fourth tier Northampton Town in their third round replay.
Robinson said that the Dons know that if Chelsea are “at their best” they can best “anybody in the world” and accepted that his team are the “underdogs, by a long way.” However, “strange results” in the FA Cup mean Robinson believes that there is an opportunity for an upset.
Team news
A big boost for the away side is the potential return of winger Eden Hazard, who made a brief appearance in the victory over Arsenal last weekend but has failed to start a game for four weeks - his last coming in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
In-form striker Costa is also expected to feature despite picking up a knee injury at the Emirates Stadium, however his strike partner Loic Remy is a doubt with a calf injury. Radamel Falcao (thigh) is a continued absentee, while the recent deals for Alexandre Pato and Matt Miazga are unlikely to be finished completely in time for them to take part.
Robinson only has the one injury concern - that being Carl Baker - and so has the opportunity to name a unchanged side, despite their crushing defeat to Bolton last week.
The game will take place at the Stadium MK on Sunday 31 January, with kick-off at 4:00PM BST.