Petr Cech returns to his old club Sparta Pague as Chelsea look to begin their Europa League campaign on a winning note.
The first leg of the round of 32 looks easy enough on paper for the European champions, but Chelsea will know any complacency will be taken advantage of by a side that will relish such a big clash.
"It is a special game because since I left Sparta Prague in 2002 I never had a chance to play a Czech team in any competition," Cech told the club's official website. "It's the first time I've gone home to play a team in any competition.
"It's exciting and kind of strange at the same time. Last time I was at the stadium as a visiting player was in 2000 as a Plzen player. I've played there for the national team and know the stadium well, but I am a visitor which is strange.
"They had five weeks pre-season and a month off so it's hard to say how they will start. They have good dynamics on the sides and younger players with speed, so that could be the way they try to catch us out. They are coming from preseason and hungry to play games.
"They will be highly motivated and have nothing to lose. This is the danger of the game. It will be very cold, it might snow because they have had heavy snow, but hopefully the pitch will be okay.
"In the Czech league the stadium is more than half empty, it has been for some years, but for European nights it is full and the atmosphere is fantastic. It's an extra motivation for their players."
Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez will again be short on players, with Demba Ba ineligible having played for Newcastle earlier in the season in the competition, while David Luiz is suspended.
Nigerian duo Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel have not travelled to Prague, having just recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. John Terry, though, has passed a fitness test and is in line for a return to the lineup.
"All the players that are here can play tomorrow (Thursday)," Benitez said. "We knew Terry had to adapt after the games, there was no reaction in his knee which was positive. Obviously you have to train and play matches, but it's just a question of time so that he can reach his real level.
"Our defensive record was quite good because we were conceding half the number of goals we had been before. If you win 4-1, you may not have kept a clean sheet but you have scored four goals.
"We have a good record and I think we are the second best team in the Premier League in terms of clean sheets. It's good, but it can be better, and we have to find the right balance."
To watch Sparta Prague vs Chelsea Live Stream, click here.
Expected Lineups: Sparta: Marek Cech; Hybs, Zapotocny, Vidicka, Svejdik, Matejovsky, Kaderabek, Husbauer, Holek, Skalak, Lafata.
Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Bertrand; Lampard, Ramires; Marin, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
Prediction: 2-0 to Chelsea
