FAC: Chelsea v Hull City preview
Chelsea v Hull City preview
Antonio Conte insists the FA Cup remains an important part of Chelsea's season despite his decision to rotate against Hull.
Conte confirmed he will look to alter his starting XI for Friday's FA Cup fifth round tie ahead of an important week in which Chelsea play their Champions League first leg tie against Barcelona before facing Manchester United on Super Sunday.
Antonio Conte says the signing of Olivier Giroud at Chelsea will give good competition for Alvaro Morata.
However, the former Italy manager is adamant the cup tie is equally as important as their Premier League and Champions League fixtures.
"I think when you start the season every competition is a priority," Conte said in his pre-match press conference.
"We tried to do the same in the Carabao Cup. We want to fight for every competition - there is not one priority. There are three for the rest of the season."
Hulls boss Nigel Adkins admits his injury-hit side will "need a lot of magic" at Chelsea given their huge list of absentees.
"We've probably got 12 on the injured list," Hull boss Adkins said on Thursday, the day after midfielder Ryan Mason announced his retirement due to the fractured skull sustained at Chelsea last January.
"We're going to have to change the team around again. We need a lot of magic to help us, let's face it, because they're an outstanding team.
"We're going there under no illusions but it's the FA Cup and anything's possible."
Tiemoue Bakayoko, David Luiz and Ross Barkley are unavailable to Conte as they are all out through injury.
For Hull, Markus Henriksen (ankle), Ondrej Mazuch (hamstring), Moses Odubajo and James Weir (both knee) remain out injured, while Abel Hernandez (Achilles), Kamil Grosicki (ankle) Stephen Kingsley and Michael Dawson (both groin) are coming back from issues of their own.
On-loan Chelsea trio Michael Hector, Ola Aina and Fikayo Tomori are ineligible to face their parent club, while experienced midfielder Seb Larsson is suspended.