On the back of Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup, Mauricio Pochettino would have considered several alterations for the game versus their neighbours.
Instead, the Argentine has opted to enforce minimal changes, recalling Armando Broja in place of Noni Madueke.
Cole Palmer will switch to the flank, rather than remaining in a false nine role, while Pochettino has been able to significantly strengthen his substitutes' bench.
Benoit Badiashile, Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka are all named in the squad, the latter pair not featuring since September and August respectively.
Meanwhile, Marco Silva has made three alterations to the Fulham XI that started the 2-1 reverse to Liverpool, also in the EFL Cup.
Timothy Castagne, Harrison Reed and Bobby Decordova-Reid are the trio to drop out of the team, all featuring among the replacements.
Kenny Tete starts at right-back, Tom Cairney comes into central midfield and Harry Wilson takes his place on the right flank.
Chelsea: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez, Gallagher; Palmer, Broja, Sterling
Subs: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Badiashile, Gilchrist, Chilwell, Chukwuemeka, Madueke, Mudryk, Washington
Fulham: Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez
Subs: Rodak, Ream, Castagne, Reed, Lukic, Decordova-Reid, Francois, Muniz, Vinicius