Chelsea v CFR Cluj

Uefa Champions League, Group A
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Tuesday 9 December Kick-off: 1945 GMT

Chelsea are without the suspended Frank Lampard for their final Champions League group match.

Florent Malouda is also doubtful with a knock but Joe Cole is fit again, while it is unclear if Didier Drogba will partner Nicolas Anelka in attack.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side need to beat the Romanian team to guarantee their spot in the knockout rounds.

Any other result could give Bordeaux the chance to go through with a victory at Roma, who are leading the group.

CFR Cluj, however, cannot qualify and are even out of contention for the Uefa Cup spot awarded to the third-place team.

As well as Lampard, the Blues are also without the injured Michael Essien (knee), Juliano Belletti (ankle), Ricardo Carvalho (knee), and Franco Di Santo (hamstring).

Deco, who scored with a stunning scissors kick in the 2-0 win at Bolton on Saturday, admits he did not expect to arrive at the last pool game needing victory to ensure qualification.

"It is a surprise for us," said the Portuguese midfielder.

"We have many problems with injuries, many players out. We had difficulties in the away games, losing to Roma and drawing with Cluj. Now we have just one game to be in the last 16.

"We have had it difficult but now we have to think about this game. We can't think about what happened in those other games.

"We are still in a good position. We need to win."

CFR Cluj striker Yssouf Kone was in the Rosenborg side which drew 1-1 with Chelsea in their opening Champions League game last season, in what turned out to be Jose Mourinho's last match in charge.

The Burkina Faso international has now set his sights on bringing down Chelsea's current coach.

"I heard that Scolari would go back to Brazil if they didn't beat us," said Kone. "But if Chelsea don't beat us tomorrow, he will really be in trouble.

"Right now Chelsea are under the pressure, the biggest pressure in the group.

"We will be playing without any pressure. They have big players but we are not bad either. It will be worth more than just three points to us if we win."

Cluj opened their campaign with a 2-1 win at Roma before the wheels came off their challenge and their coach, Maurizio Trombetta, insisted they would not be lacking motivation when they run out Stamford Bridge.

"Playing against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is enough motivation for us," said Trombetta.

"Unfortunately for us we have no chance of going any further. But we were outsiders in Rome and won and so maybe with a little luck and concentration, we can do it again against Chelsea."

Provisional Chelsea squad: Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Ivanovic, Deco, Obi, Ballack, J Cole, A Cole, Bridge, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba, Stoch.