Let's not waste any time; there's some significant Chelsea team news to bring you. Eden Hazard has not travelled with the squad, because of what manager Antonio Conte has called "a little problem". Pedro replaces him. 

That's the only change to the team who beat Manchester United in the FA Cup on Monday; Nemanja Matic retains his place alongside N'Golo Kante in midfield, with Cesc Fabregas on the bench. John Terry is not involved in the squad; he, like Hazard, is suffering with a minor knock.

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

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

Image source, .

Stoke are in a familiar position - ninth, where they have finished for each of the past three seasons under manager Mark Hughes. They have blown hot and cold this season - no league wins until mid-October, and they lost heavily at Tottenham last month, but they have taken draws at both Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium.

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

Ah, Jose Mourinho. The former Chelsea manager did not enjoy his return to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup last Monday. Following Manchester United's 1-0 defeat, he grumbled about their four-hour journey home on the M6, made necessary because a chartered plane failed to turn up on time.

Today, it's Chelsea's turn to brave at least some of that horrible, horrible motorway* as they visit Stoke. So will the M6, ahem, take its toll on the champions?

*Unless they went M1, then A50 - although that really would be thinking outside the box.