Chelsea v Stoke preview

Ancelotti: Stoke test

Related links

Teams

• Chelsea
• Stoke City

Also see

• Sky Sports experts
• Transfer Centre
• Fantasy Football

Next up for Chelsea in their quest to defend their FA Cup crown is a home date with Stoke City.

The competition has now reached the quarter-final stage and every side still in the hunt knows they are just one game away from a trip to Wembley, and two from the final itself.

Chelsea took the trophy in 2009, for the second time in three years, and they are hot favourites to repeat that feat 12 months on.

They have, however, suffered back-to-back defeats in all competitions and had a number of players away on international duty in midweek.

Stoke, meanwhile, are looking to reach the last four of the FA Cup for the first time in 38 years.

The Potters have suffered only one defeat in their last 12 games and have already seen off Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City en route to this stage of the competition.

Chelsea team news

Chelsea have been dealt a major blow with the news that Portuguese full-back Jose Bosingwa is set to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

The Blues will also be without Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti as both men must serve a one-match ban as a result of their dismissals against Manchester City last time out.

Petr Cech (calf), Deco (knee), Ashely Cole (ankle) and Michael Essien (knee) are also missing.

Daniel Sturridge will, however, be available and the youngster will be looking to extend an impressive record which has seen him find the target in every round so far.

Stoke team news

Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross is unavailable for cup duty at Stamford Bridge as he starts a three-match suspension.

Shawcross was sent off last weekend for his tackle on Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey which resulted in the young midfielder breaking his leg in two places.

Danny Collins is expected to fill in at the heart of Tony Pulis' back four, although the Potters boss could decide to move Robert Huth across from full-back.

Stoke will await fitness checks on Matthew Etherington (knee) and Danny Higginbotham (back), who have missed three and four matches respectively, before naming their side.