Premier League leaders Chelsea could go 13 points clear at the top if they beat Mark Hughes’ Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

Antonio Conte’s men reached the last four of the FA Cup on Monday after narrowly beating Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, but they will return to league action this weekend 12 days after their last outing, which was a 2-1 victory at West Ham.

The Blues will look to take advantage of both Tottenham and Manchester City playing on Sunday to extend their lead at the summit, knowing that eight wins from their last 11 matches will guarantee them a fifth Premier League title in 12 years.

However, it won’t be easy against Stoke on Saturday, as the Potters have lost just one of their last four league games, and haven’t lost any of their last eight matches at the bet365 Stadium.

In fact, Hughes’ men have lost just three of their 14 Premier League games at home this term, and given that two of those came in their first two matches of the campaign, Stoke will be a stern test for Conte’s men to overcome on Saturday.

Nonetheless, the Blues will go in as favourites, and Conte could decide to shuffle his pack in a bid to keep the squad fit and fresh ahead of the run in.

Thus, here are THREE Chelsea players who deserve a chance against Stoke on Saturday…

Nathan Ake

It’s difficult to see a way into the Chelsea side at the moment for several fringe players, and Nathan Ake must be wondering why the club cut short his loan spell only at Bournemouth to leave him on the bench.

The 22-year-old spent the first half of the campaign at the Vitality Stadium and did well in his ten Premier League appearances for the Cherries, earning rave reviews after a string of impressive performances.

However, he is now back at Stamford Bridge, and could be given a chance against Stoke on Saturday in a bid to keep things fresh at the back, especially as Marcos Alonso has been playing with an injury for much of the season.

Nathaniel Chalobah

Disposing N’Golo Kante of a starting place is almost impossible, but Conte hasn’t always kept with Nemanja Matic as the Frenchman’s midfield partner this season.

And that may mean that England Under-21 international Nathaniel Chalobah could receive his first Premier League start of the campaign at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

The 22-year-old has made eight substitute appearances in the league this term to demonstrate his importance in the Blues squad, and he has started three of their four FA Cup ties as well.

A string of loan spells has no doubt helped Chalobah in his development, but now is the time for the Chelsea fans to see him at his best, and it could come against the Potters this weekend.

Cesc Fabregas

It didn’t look like Cesc Fabregas had much of a future at Chelsea back in November, when he hadn’t started a Premier League game since the end of September.

However, an excellent display in the Blues’ 3-1 victory at Manchester City on December 3 appears to have given him a lifeline, as he has since then started six times in the league, scoring twice and laying on four assists in those games.

And when you factor in that he has started their last two league matches against Swansea and West Ham, and that he didn’t start against Manchester United in the FA Cup on Monday, he looks set to regain his place in the centre of midfield against Stoke on Saturday.