Blues without trio for City test

Chelsea will be without Salomon Kalou and Yossi Benayoun for three weeks while Frank Lampard has not shaken off his hernia problem in time to play against Manchester City tomorrow.

Kalou and Benayoun were expected to be out for up to a month after suffering thigh and calf injuries respectively in the 4-3 Carling Cup defeat by Newcastle.

Paulo Ferreira drops to the bench to make way for captain John Terry, who returned in midweek after missing the 4-0 win over Blackpool five days ago with a rib injury, while Nicolas Anelka is set to replace Kalou in the only other change from last week.

Provisional squad: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Anelka, Drogba, Malouda, Ferriera, Borini, Bruma, Zhirkov, Sturridge, Turnbull, Van Aanholt, McEachran.