Chelsea at the ready

For Chelsea's star-studded side, a dose of football reality awaits on Humberside this afternoon. As they take to the field at Hull, Rome's Olympic Stadium will seem a million miles away.

Over 12,000 partisans will be shoehorned into Boothferry Park, the vast majority hoping to witness a cup upset. But while Chelsea can boast a host of World Cup stars, Hull can match their combined goal tally of two at France '98 - thanks to the efforts of Jamaica's Theodore Whitmore.

The midfielder, who scored twice in the Reggae Boyz' 2-1 win over Japan in Lyon, joined Warren Joyce's outfit in October. Today's game will provide a more high-profile stage on which to perform.

"We have to get stuck in amongst them like Sunderland did," said the Tigers' defender Jon Whitney. "They're not going to get any respect from us and, if we can sneak a goal, you never know."

The Third Division side might think Chelsea are there for the taking. This season, the Blues have lost to Watford, Arsenal and Derby after midweek Champions League exertions.

"We have struggled against teams of that kind so we have to go there thinking they are the best team in the world," said the Chelsea midfielder Gustavo Poyet. "We must play the best football we can play."

Liverpool may have to contend with Zico if they are to avoid a potential banana skin at the McAlpine Stadium tomorrow. Huddersfield, top of the first division, have won eight of their last nine league games and hope to unleash their new Thai international striker Kiatisuk "Zico" Senamuang who has scored 79 goals in 100 appearances for his country.

The only all-Premiership clash sees a repeat of last season's Old Trafford semi-final as Tottenham take on Newcastle. The London club will be without the suspended Tim Sherwood and Mauricio Taricco, while Bobby Robson's Magpies have lost Franck Dumas with a broken elbow.

Second division Wrexham, conquerors of Arsenal, Ipswich and West Ham in recent years, name an unchanged squad for the visit of Middlesbrough to the Racecourse. Bryan Robson will be without Paul Ince who is recovering from a hernia operation.

Watford entertain Birmingham, who they beat on penalties in the play-off semi-finals last season. One of their play-off heroes, Nick Wright, could return after missing the last 10 matches, while the Blues will stick with the defender Darren Purse up front as their injury crisis continues.

Crewe, who have won two home games in a week, will be without injured striker Colin Cramb as they bid to make it a hat-trick against Premiership Bradford.

Exeter City's St James' Park will host a capacity 6,100 crowd for the visit of a full-strength Everton, while Hereford of the Conference will include three part-timers against Leicester.

Leicester could be without goalkeeper Tim Flowers, who is suffering from 'flu. His understudy Pegguy Arphexad has an ankle injury so the youth team keeper John Hodges is on standby.