Ferguson could field weakened side

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is likely to be without Didier Drogba and Arjen Robben for the home clash with Manchester United tomorrow.

Both players missed the 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday through injury and are expected to miss out again.

Michael Ballack (ankle) and Andriy Shevchenko (hernia) are also out, as is Ricardo Carvalho (knee).

Young strikers Scott Sinclair and Ben Sahar are added to the squad for the visit of the newly-crowned champions.

Alex Ferguson is prepared to risk title winners Manchester United getting beaten in order to preserve a sense of fair play in the relegation battle.

Scrapping it out at the bottom is a concept alien to Ferguson apart from one very brief flirtation with danger during his early days as Red Devils boss.

Yet he is acutely aware all eyes will be on Old Trafford this weekend when United entertain a West Ham side looking for the point that will guarantee their safety.

Ferguson's enjoys a long-time friendship with Alan Curbishley but says the West Ham manager can expect no favours this weekend, with Sheffield United and Wigan also scrapping for their lives.

And the United chief's determination to ensure he has a full strength side available to face the Hammers means he will rest a number of key man at Stamford Bridge.

"The West Ham game is a very important issue," said Ferguson.  "We have to respect our reputation.

"Alan Curbishley is a good friend of mine but he understands we have to respect the wishes of other managers.

"I get on very well with Paul Jewell and Alan Pardew as well. They deserve our best attention to the game and I will be picking a team to win on Sunday.

"I don't know what my team will be at Chelsea but there will be a lot of changes, simply because the players are so tired."

Ferguson claims he would have fielded a weakened side even if Chelsea had beaten Arsenal on Sunday to prolong the title battle.

"I know it would have been controversial but when you consider Chelsea's home record in the last few seasons, I could have played my best team and still lost," he admitted.

"I could have played all my youth team and kept my first-choice one for Sunday.  In the event, I am glad we are going there as champions. It would have been some game if we weren't."

Among those likely to miss out are Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Edwin van der Sar may also get a rest, while Ferguson will assess the fitness of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic very carefully, reluctant to take any risks with two of the men he believes have been key to United's success this season.

Mourinho said his players will applaud United onto the pitch tomorrow, just as Ferguson ordered his team to do in similar circumstances two years ago.