Chelseavs.Barrow

The Blues' huge squad has often been perceived as a negative with having to keep so many players happy, but Maresca has made it clear who is in his plans among the current group.

After a 3-0 win over West Ham United on Saturday, the Chelsea boss is likely to rest all of his key players with League Two opposition up next on home soil in their first domestic cup tie of the season.

Saturday's goalscorers Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson are two players almost certain to be rested, and there are no shortage of options for Maresca to choose from to replace them.

Jadon Sancho is still being eased back to full fitness, but even he may sit this one out, with Pedro Neto and Mykhaylo Mudryk likely to come in out wide.

Christopher Nkunku has lost his place in the league squad, but should start here, alongside either Joao Felix or Marc Guiu in a central role.

Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has come in for plenty of praise with back-to-back clean sheets and a penalty save against Bournemouth, but new signing Filip Jorgensen could be given game time here like he did against Servette in Europe last month.

Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are also likely to sit this one out, opening the door for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Renato Veiga to start, while Romeo Lavia could also feature if he is able to overcome a thigh problem.

Malo Gusto is also dealing with a similar issue, and is closing in on a return, but this fixture may come too soon for the Frenchman, and fellow right-back Reece James is a confirmed absentee after he suffered a setback in his attempts to recover from muscle injury.

Two more players likely to come into the side are French defensive duo Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, who have not been fancied by Maresca in the Premier League, but did play in their Conference League qualifiers.

Chelsea possible starting lineup:

Jorgensen; Disasi, Badiashile, Tosin, Colwill; Renato Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall; Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku