David Luiz will play in midfield for the first time in a Chelsea home game, alongside Frank Lampard who starts the 500th Premier League game of his career.
Branislav Ivanovic will play central defence with Cesar Azpilicueta at right-back and the attacking four are the same as began the Club World Cup final, so Oscar is on the bench. John Mikel Obi is suspended.
Nathan Ake, the 17-year-old Dutch defender/midfielder is again on the bench, as he was at Leeds.
Aston Villa are unchanged from their win at Liverpool last time out.
Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:
1 Petr Cech
28 Cesar Azpilicueta
2 Branislav Ivanovic
24 Gary Cahill
4 David Luiz
3 Ashley Cole
8 Frank Lampard (c)
13 Victor Moses
10 Juan Mata
17 Eden Hazard
9 Fernando Torres
Substitutes: 22 Ross Turnbull, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 57 Nathan Ake, 7 Ramires, 11 Oscar, 21 Marko Marin, 35 Lucas Piazon.
Villa are expected to line up in the following 3-5-2 formation:
Guzan; Herd, Clark (c), Baker; Lowton, Westwood, Holman, Bannan, Lichaj; Weimann, Benteke.
Substitutes: Given, Bennett, El Ahmadi, Ireland, Albrighton, Delph, Bowery.
The referee is Phil Dowd.
Follow the game via our Live Matches from 3.30am (UK time).