Glenn Roeder is sweating over the fitness of Nolberto Solano and Emre before finalising his line-up for Newcastle's massive Carling Cup fixture against the Premiership champions.
Solano has missed the last two games with a groin problem, while Emre limped off during last weekend's win over Watford.
Damien Duff is set to face his old club for the first time and he could be forced to play at left-back with another Chelsea old boy Celestine Babayaro banned.
Jose Mourinho is set to rest some of his top stars and Newcastle long-term target Wayne Bridge looks likely to play. Paulo Ferreira and Shaun Wright-Phillips are all expected to start.
John Terry is out, meaning Khalid Boulahrouz will deputise again. And after his dodgy performance against Everton at the weekend, that can only be great news for Roeder and speed merchant Oba Martins. We know the Chelsea defender hates strikers who have pace, and Martins could be his worst nightmare.
Carlo Cudicini is still struggling with a thigh problem so Hilario is likely to continue in goal. Joe Cole is missing as he recovers from a broken foot.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Srnicek, Solano, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Parker, Butt, Emre, Milner, Duff, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Edgar, Martins, Dyer, Sibierski, Luque, Rossi, Carroll.
CHELSEA (from): Hilario, Hedman, Cudicini, Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Geremi, Carvalho, A Cole, Bridge, Essien, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Drogba, Shevchenko, Diarra, Wright-Phillips, Robben, Kalou.