Chelsea v QPR preview

FA Cup holders take on West London rivals

By James Dall   Last updated: 5th January 2008

Luigi De Canio

De Canio: Stamford Bridge test

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com predicts: Chelsea 2 QPR 1

SKY BET odds: Chelsea 1/9, Draw 11/2, QPR 16/1

One to Watch: Salomon Kalou

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Holders Chelsea lock horns with arch-rivals Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

12 years have passed since the two West London clubs last met, with the duo playing out a 1-1 stalemate at Stamford Bridge.

Much has changed since March 1996, though, with Chelsea and QPR both receiving strong financial backing and Avram Grant and Luigi De Canio now in charge of their respective clubs.

The encounter is highly anticipated, and 6,000 Hoops fans will travel 3.5 miles across West London craving a memorable victory against a Blues side that holds an enviable unbeaten record at home.

Team news

Grant's injury woes continue, and he is set to be without goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, plus Claude Makelele, Andrei Shevchenko, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

Ricardo Carvalho serves the third game of his three-match ban, while Michael Essien is suspended after reaching five cautions.

For QPR, midfielder Mikele Leigertwood serves the third of his four-match ban following his second sending off this season, so Adam Bolder is likely to continue in the engine room.

New signing Patrick Agyemang could make his debut for the club after joining from Preston on Thursday, while De Canio's most recent acquisition - Fitz Hall - is in contention to play.