Last season's Carling Cup runners-up Chelsea take on Premier League rivals Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Last season's runners-up head to Fratton Park
Last season's Carling Cup runners-up Chelsea take on Premier League rivals Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the third round of the competition.
The Blues, under the stewardship of Avram Grant at the time, were defeated 2-1 by Tottenham at Wembley in February.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's men, who brushed aside Wednesday's opponents 4-0 earlier this term, head into the competition off the back of a 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United.
Pompey, meanwhile, exited the League Cup in round four last season after a loss to Blackburn Rovers.
Bounce back
The FA Cup holders have endured mixed form this campaign and manager Harry Redknapp will be looking for a response after they went down 6-0 at Manchester City at the weekend.
Portsmouth midfield trio Lassana Diarra, Sean Davis and Papa Bouba Diop are all ruled out for the showdown.
Former Blues player Diarra is unavailable due to a knee ligament injury while Davis and Diop are struggling with groin and hamstring problems respectively.
Redknapp looks set to hand Nigerian striker Kanu his first start since he scored the winner in the FA Cup final in May.
Decisions
John Utaka could also be set to play a key role, while Redknapp will consider resting the likes of Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and skipper Sol Campbell.
Chelsea, who have won the competition twice and reached the final three times in five years, are without Portugal duo Deco (thigh) and Ricardo Carvalho (knee).
Michael Essien (knee) is a long-term injury victim while Didier Drogba (knee) and Michael Ballack (ankle) are still short of match fitness.
