Right on cue, Martins Indi and Costa fall out once more while challenging for Marcos Alonso's cross from the left. Both striker and centre-back end up on the floor in what the late, great Caroline Aherne would have described as "a heated debate". Anthony Taylor tells them both to cool it.

I miss Mrs Merton.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa, a player Mark Hughes has spoken of in admiring terms in the past, is settling into a fascinating physical battle with Stoke centre-back Bruno Martins Indi. The Dutchman tangles with the Spain international, who falls to the floor demanding a free-kick, and gets nowt from Mr Taylor. I reckon we'll see more of those two this afternoon.

Marcos Alonso, attacking down the left for Chelsea, sees Pedro make a run down the centre. Antonio Conte shouts to indicate where he wants the pass played, but the former Bolton man overhits it. Must do better. Chelsea guilty of putting a bit too much on their through passes so far.

Image source, Getty Images

The pitch looks immaculate. A good following from west London, giving an early blast of 'When the Blues go marching in'. 

Pedro plays a ball towards the corner looking for Victor Moses for Chelsea, which Stoke's Ramadan Sobhi tries to run out for a goal-kick. To his visible bemusement, the ball stops dead on the line. The Egyptian just glares at the ball for a second; he does, though, play his way out successfully.

Stoke passing the ball with confidence early on; Jon Walters tries to feed a pass wide to Marko Arnautovic, who has strayed a fraction offside. They look in the mood to give Chelsea a game, though.

A quick recap on the teams; Eden Hazard has not travelled with the Chelsea squad because of "a little problem", as manager Antonio Conte describes it, and so Pedro deputises.

For Stoke, Marko Arnautovic has recovered from illness, with Mame Biram Diouf dropping to the bench to make way.

Stoke XI:  Grant; Bardsley, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Allen, Cameron; Walters, Sobhi, Arnautovic; Berahino.

Substitutes:  Given, Muniesa, Whelan, Afellay, Adam, Diouf, Crouch.

Chelsea XI:  Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Willian, Costa, Pedro.

Substitutes:  Begovic, Zouma, Ake, Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Batshuayi.

An overcast day in Stoke-on-Trent; I'm sure referee Anthony Taylor had better weather than this on his stag do in Marbella at the end of last month.

Ouch...

Let's hope Chelsea's Pedro has a better shot on target when the match begins.

Here he is giving a shirt to a woman in the away end after pelting her in the face with a wayward effort during the warm-up.

Image source, EPA

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Stoke showed with their 0-0 draw at Manchester City in their last game that they are capable of digging in against the top teams, but I don't see them holding out against Chelsea.

This is another hurdle for the Blues in their title bid, but I think it is one they will clear comfortably.

Whatever Stoke can throw at Chelsea, I think they will deal with it. There is nothing remotely fragile about Antonio Conte's team at all.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Read the rest of Lawro's predictions here as he takes on boxer Anthony Crolla.

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator at the bet365 Stadium

"Stoke have won this fixture in two of the past three seasons, but despite frustrating Manchester City last time out, they will have to go to another level against the current league leaders.

"Chelsea's consistency is there to be admired by everyone. Eighteen wins and just one defeat from the last 21 Premier League games tells its own impressive story.

"Quite simply, they are title-winning statistics. However, Antonio Conte will not allow his team to take their foot off the pedal as he eyes a repeat of Carlo Ancelotti's  league and cup double."

"Mark Hughes' team have only lost twice in their past nine league games and will hope that the Chelsea machine isn't quite as well oiled as it has been for the majority of this season."

Stoke have made a habit of giving Chelsea a tough time in recent meetings. They came back to equalise twice at Stamford Bridge on New Year's Eve before the leaders eventually pulled away to win 4-2.

Under previous management, Chelsea were beaten twice at Stoke last season - on penalties in the League Cup and 1-0 in the league, with Marko Arnautovic scoring the winner as Jose Mourinho served a stadium ban and had to watch from the team hotel. I can't be certain, but I don't think it was the Holiday Inn Express next to the ground.

Image source, Getty Images

Some thumping retro tunes blasting out over the bet365 Stadium's public address system as we await the teams. We've just had A Town Called Malice by The Jam for the 80s crowd, and now we've got It's Like That by Run DMC for the 90s youth. (Or Run DMC vs Jason Nevins, if we're being pedantic.)

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke manager Hughes had a good three seasons as a player at Chelsea, winning the FA Cup, the League Cup (as it was known then) and the European Cup Winners' Cup. He did have the misfortune to turn out in the worst away kit in the club's history, but you can't have everything.

I have no photographs of Antonio Conte in a Stoke kit, before you ask.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Hughes and Antonio Conte did face up to each other in their playing days - in a match that had spectacular consequences for the Stoke manager's career.

Hughes featured for Wales against Conte's Italy in a Euro 2000 qualifier in June 1999. Wales were thrashed 4-0 in Bologna, and the ineptitude of their display prompted manager Bobby Gould to resign live on television during an interview with BBC reporter Rob Phillips.

Gould's replacement? Hughes - in his first managerial role.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "Pedro's come in for Eden Hazard - the top clubs can replace world-class players with world-class players. That's the competitive advantage they have. But we have game-changers as well.

"In recent times, we've caused problems for Chelsea at home, and we equalised twice when we played down there earlier this season, so we will take comfort from that. We have to replicate what we did against Manchester City."

Just the one change for Stoke from the team who drew 0-0 at Manchester City in their last game 10 days ago. Marko Arnautovic has recovered from illness, and replaces Mame Biram Diouf, who drops to the bench.

Stoke XI:  Grant; Bardsley, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Allen, Cameron; Walters, Sobhi, Arnautovic; Berahino.

Substitutes:  Given, Muniesa, Whelan, Afellay, Adam, Diouf, Crouch.

Image source, .

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte:  "I said yesterday that there were two situations I had to check - and they were Eden [Hazard] and John [Terry]. They have little problems but I prefer to focus on this game.

"Stoke are a good team, a strong team, physical with good technique. It's my first time in Stoke. I expect an atmosphere that's exciting."

Antonio Conte said in his news conference yesterday that there were two players who he considered major doubts, but refused to say who they were. Even though the identities have been revealed, the Chelsea manager has been similarly coy in a pre-match interview when asked why Eden Hazard and John Terry are not in the squad.