Premier League preview: Chelsea v Blackburn

The turbulent league seasons of Chelsea and Blackburn will come to a close when they square off at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The game is effectively a dead rubber, as Rovers will finish 19th and be relegated to the Championship, and Chelsea will end the season in sixth irrespective of the result.

However, Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo will use the game as a chance to fine-tune his side before the Champions League final on May 19.

The Blues will be missing both John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic through suspension in Munich, and Di Matteo may rush back defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill against Blackburn in a race to be fit for the final.

“We are working towards their fitness and trying to get them back as soon as we can,” Di Matteo said.

“They were not available for Liverpool so we will have to see (when they could return).”

Other absentees from Wednesday morning’s game at Anfield were Didier Drogba, Peter Cech and John Obi Mikel, who were all nursing injuries.

Di Matteo is likely to use the trio sparingly, and may resort to several reserve and youth team players to fill the line-up on Saturday.

It may be the final time Chelsea fans see Drogba at home, if recent reports linking the striker to Chinese club Shanghai have any basis.

Meanwhile at Ewood Park, fans will be eager to finish a season that has delivered few positives.

The one-time Premier League champions have experienced a slow and painful road to relegation that has seen fans turn their back on the club’s owners Venky’s and manager Steve Kean.

The ‘Kean Out’ chants have been sung by Rovers fans since pre-Christmas, yet Kean himself maintains he is going nowhere.

“We have the basis of a good young side, we just have to add more experience,” Kean said.

“I said a number of weeks ago, it is a changing time for the club.

“The owners are not going anywhere, I’m not going anywhere.”