Frank Lampard is ill and is expected to miss a potential farewell appearance for Chelsea in the final Premier League match of the season at Cardiff.
Lampard, Ashley Cole and captain John Terry, who has a knock, are all out of contract at the end of the season, as is striker Samuel Eto'o, who recently had a knee injury, and is doubtful after being injured in training on Thursday.
Oscar (hip) missed last week's draw with Norwich, Ramires is suspended for the third of four matches and goalkeeper Petr Cech (shoulder) is out.
Cardiff will be without Juan Cala after the defender was handed a three-match suspension.
The Spaniard was sent off in the Bluebirds' 4-0 defeat at Sunderland last month for denying Connor Wickham a goalscoring opportunity, but this punishment related to his conduct as he left the field and made his way to the players' tunnel.
With Cardiff relegated following last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Newcastle, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to make changes as the Welsh club target a winning send-off on home soil before returning to the Championship next term.
Match Appointments
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: D England, D Bryan. Fourth Official: R East.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Chelsea have won the last two meetings 4-1 - the corresponding fixture in October and an FA Cup fifth-round clash in February 2010.
- The Blues are unbeaten in the last five league games in south Wales (L4, D1). Cardiff's last home victory against Chelsea came in February 1963.
Cardiff
- Cardiff have lost their last two matches, conceding seven goals without reply.
- The Bluebirds have conceded three or more goals in five of their last seven league matches.
- Cardiff have conceded a Premier League-high 15 headed goals this season.
- It is nearly five hours since Cardiff scored in open play (295 mins).
- The Bluebirds are the 28th team in Premier League history to be relegated the first season after being promoted.
- Only Norwich (28) have scored fewer goals than Cardiff (31) this season.
- They have trailed at half-time in a Premier League-high 19 of their 37 games this season.
Chelsea
- Chelsea have won only four of their last eight Premier League games (L3, D1).
- They have the Premier League's meanest defence (26 goals conceded), keeping clean sheets in four of their last five matches.
- This season is guaranteed to be Jose Mourinho's worst Premier League points total.
- They have only trailed at half-time in three league games this season - a Premier League high.
- Chelsea have won only four of their last 11 Premier League games played in May.
- Samuel Eto'o scored his first Premier League goal in the reverse fixture. Eto'o is yet to score away from home in any competition for the Blues.
Teams
Cardiff (from): Marshall, Lewis, Turner, Theophile-Catherine, Fabio, John, Caulker, Campbell, Daehli, Medel, Eikrem, Mutch, Kim, Jones, Bellamy, Zaha, Taylor, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Cowie, McNaughton.
Chelsea (from): Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Lampard, Torres, Oscar, Mikel, Schurrle, Salah, Hazard, Van Ginkel, Ba, Willian, Matic, Schwarzer, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Eto'o, Kalas, Hilario, Ake.