Chelsea kick off their Conference League campaign with a visit from Swiss side Servette on Thursday evening.

In the first leg of their play-off, Chelsea will be looking to build a healthy lead they can take to Geneva next week. If the Blues can conquer their opponents over two legs, they will reach the newly expanded league phase of the Conference League for the 2024/25 season.

Enzo Maresca’s side will be enormous favourites for Thursday’s meeting and rightly so, but confidence is hardly at an all-time high in west London. An iffy pre-season tour of the United States, a questionable transfer window and an underwhelming 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in their opening Premier League fixture mean there is already pressure on the former Leicester City coach.

Here is how he could line Chelsea up for Thursday’s duel.

GK: Filip Jorgensen – The summer signing could be handed his competitive debut for the Blues, with Robert Sanchez perhaps reserved for the Premier League. The former Villarreal stopper will be desperate to make a positive first impression.

RB: Malo Gusto – Reece James is only suspended in domestic competition but the English defender is unsurprisingly struggling with injury, meaning Gusto may be asked to step in once more.

CB: Benoit Badiashile – With Wesley Fofana a surprise omission from the squad to face Servette, there is a chance Badiashile comes into the starting XI. The Frenchman’s standing in the hierarchy of Chelsea’s gazillion central defenders is set to become clearer in the near future.

CB: Levi Colwill – The left-footed defender endured a tough battle with Erling Haaland at the weekend but should have things easier against a Servette side who have lost three of their last five matches.

LB: Renato Veiga – The versatile defender came on for Marc Cucurella against Man City, with the latter suffering a slight knock late in the match. Veiga could fill in against Servette, a side he knows well given his Basel connections.

DM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – While not a defensive midfielder, Dewsbury-Hall could function in a deep-lying role against Servette. Potentially being handed his first start for the Blues, he needs to make a quick start to life at Stamford Bridge given the immense competition for places in midfield.

DM: Romeo Lavia – Chelsea’s strongest performer against his old employers Man City, Lavia has made an impressive start under Maresca. After being taken off early against the champions, he could make only his second Chelsea start this Thursday.

RW: Cole Palmer – Chelsea’s reliance on Palmer was alarming last season and they may lean on the attacker in the early days of the Maresca era. He’s still the shining light in an ever-changing squad.

AM: Christopher Nkunku – The Frenchman struggled against Man City off the left-hand side and may operate in behind a central striker on Thursday. That attacking midfield role is where he thrives and he should pull the strings against Servette.

LW: Pedro Neto – The £54m summer signing looked lively after coming off the bench at the weekend and he will be licking his lips at the prospect of opening his Chelsea account on Thursday.

ST: Marc Guiu – The 18-year-old showed glimpses of his potential during pre-season and has an opportunity to show Maresca why he deserves to be part of Chelsea’s squad for the 2024/25 campaign.

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