Cape Town - Chelsea will be looking to restore their three-point lead at the Premier League table when the travel to Mark Hughes' Stoke City on Monday night.

The Blues, who have a game in hand on second-placed Manchester City, saw the Citizens move level on points on Saturday following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Stoke, meanwhile, followed up on a morale-boosting 3-2 victory over Arsenal by playing to a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last time out and a victory against Jose Mourinho's men would propel them into the top half of the Premier League standings ahead of the round of fixtures on Boxing Day.

According to Football411, Stoke expect to have attacker Bojan Krkic available for selection after he sustained a minor hip injury against Crystal Palace.

And Hughes will also be able to call on Marc Muniesa (hamstring) and Stephen Ireland (knee) after the duo returned to training recently following injury.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho must decide whether to stick with Petr Cech in goal following the return to fitness of Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois has been the Blues first-choice 'keeper this season but has missed their last two clashes with a minor muscular injury.

Striker Didier Drogba and defender Kurt Zouma picked up knocks in the midweek Capital One Cup victory over Derby County, but should be fit for selection nonetheless.