Samuel Eto’o leads the attack with Fernando Torres on the bench.
Willian is given his home debut with Oscar among the subs following his trip to the Far East with Brazil, but David Luiz continues as John Terry’s partner and Ramires is alongside Frank Lampard in midfield.
Ryan Bertrand replaces injured Ashley Cole who misses his first league game of the season.
Petr Cech plays his 300th Premier League match.
Cardiff drop striker Frazer Campbell and midfielder Kim Bo-Kyung to the bench and bring in Don Cowie and Jordan Mutch.
Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:
1 Petr Cech; 2 Branislav Ivanovic, 4 David Luiz, 26 John Terry (c), 34 Ryan Bertrand; 7 Ramires, 8 Frank Lampard; 22 Willian, 10 Juan Mata, 17 Eden Hazard; 29 Samuel Eto’o.
Substitutes: 23 Mark Schwarzer, 28 Cesar Azpilicueta, 24 Gary Cahill, 5 Michael Essien, 11 Oscar, 15 Kevin De Bruyne, 9 Fernando Torres.
The Cardiff line up is:
Marshall; K Theophile-Catherine, S Caulker (c), B Turner, A Taylor; G Medel; D Cowie, A Gunnarsson J Mutch P Whittingham; P Odemwingie.
Substitutues: J Lewis, M Hudson, C Noone, K Bo-Kyung, N Maynard, F Campbell.
The referee is Anthony Taylor.
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