Ferdinand and Terry to face off in cup clash

Anton Ferdinand and John Terry will both start today’s FA Cup fourth-round tie between QPR and Chelsea.

The match represents the first time the duo have faced each other since allegations were made that the Chelsea captain used a racist slur against Ferdinand during October’s Premier League match at Loftus Road.

Terry has since been charged with racially abusing QPR defender Ferdinand and is expected to enter a not guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, having denied the charge against him.

QPR manager Mark Hughes has always insisted he has no qualms about playing Ferdinand and, despite reportedly being sent a bullet in the post yesterday, he started at Loftus Road.

Hughes makes one change, drafting in Tommy Smith for DJ Campbell, while counterpart Andre Villas-Boas has brought in Florent Malouda and Branislav Ivanovic.

QPR: Kenny, Hill, Ferdinand, Hall, Young, Mackie, Buzsaky, Barton, Wright-Phillips, Helguson, Smith.

Subs: Cerny, Orr, Derry, Hulse, Ephraim, Macheda, Onuoha.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Meireles, Ramires, Sturridge, Malouda, Mata, Torres.

Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Bosingwa, Lukaku, Cahill, Bertrand.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)