Chelsea look to exploit Barca's soft centre

Barcelona wailed about Chelsea's defensive tactics in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final but they should be more concerned about their own rearguard before the return at Stamford Bridge tonight.

With Carles Puyol suspended and Rafael Marquez injured, Barcelona look horribly exposed in central defence, especially with the powerful presence of Didier Drogba poised to overpower whoever is drafted in.

Amid the jubilation of Barcelona's 6-2 thrashing of Real Madrid on Saturday, Chelsea's spies will have reported back that Real's two goals were via the heads of Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Ramos courtesy of slack marking in the middle.

Gerard Pique, Eric Abidal and Martin Caceres, who has looked shaky this season, are vying for the two slots while manager Pep Guardiola could spring a surprise by dropping muscular midfielder Yaya back to counter the physical presence of Drogba.

The big Ivorian will be licking his lips at the prospect of attacking that soft centre, and when it comes to set-pieces, he will have considerable reinforcement.

Centre-backs Alex and John Terry, Michael Ballack, Mikel, and full-back Branislav Ivanovic, who headed two goals in the quarter-final against Liverpool, have considerable presence and Frank Lampard has an unerring delivery.

Ballack and Terry will have loved every word of Barcelona's complaints and no doubt plan to deliver a similarly uncompromising welcome tonight.

Hiddink, aware of his side's set-piece and aerial threat but also concerned by Barcelona's dangerous attack and ability to snatch an away goal, is likely to start with the same steady approach with Drogba ploughing a lone furrow up front.

Nicolas Anelka, who scored his 22nd of the season on Saturday, will be desperate to start but is more likely to return to the bench, from where he can be introduced to add more variety to Chelsea's attack if plan A fails to come off.

"I like to have a flexible team," Hiddink said. "I don't want them surprised with two strikers playing together."

Chelsea are also stiffened at the back with the return from suspension of Ashley Cole.

The England left-back is at his best when fully concentrated on man-marking a dangerous winger, and Lionel Messi, who struggled to go past the stand-in Jose Bosingwa in the first leg, will have to be at his elusive best to make his mark.

Teams (probable)

Chelsea: P. Cech; B. Ivanovic, J. Terry, Alex, A. Cole, M. Essien, J. O. Mikel; M. Ballack, F. Lampard, F. Malouda; D. Drogba.

Barcelona: V. Valdes; D. Alves, G. Pique, M. Caceres, E. Abidal; Xavi, Y. Toure, A. Iniesta; L. Messi, S. Eto'o, T. Henry.

Referee: Tom Henning (Norway).