It is Stamford Bridge's final evening game of the season. With confidence surging through the squad on a run of extraordinary results, the Blues now face five dates with destiny over three short weeks. Those matches will determine whether (or by which means) the team competes in next season's Champions League and if Chelsea are to be the fifth most trophy-laden club in English football. Or not.

First at hand is the task of furthering our chances of finishing in fourth place. Our opponents' manager Alan Pardew joked he would choke on his beer should the Londoners win the Champions League and go straight into the 2012/13 group stage.

His side, though, surrendered fourth place at the weekend after a surprising 0-4 defeat at Wigan while Chelsea, in the 6-1 thrashing of QPR, netted our quickest four-goal lead in 42 years. Newcastle have only won two of their previous 45 league matches at Stamford Bridge in 58 years.

The result at the DW meant the Magpies have lost three of their previous five aways. In contrast, over the same number of home games the Blues have the best record in the top flight. (Newcastle have the same split of results on their own patch, but Chelsea's goal difference is marginally better at plus ten.)

Despite their uniquely heavy load, Roberto Di Matteo will be urging his side to bring the same kind of swagger that blew away neighbours QPR on Sunday throughout the final games.

Perhaps the hardest remaining test in the Premier League comes at Anfield in the week between the FA Cup final (against Liverpool, of course) and the season finale in Munich. However, Kenny Dalglish's team were unexpectedly beaten 1-0 by Fulham on Tuesday night.

With fourth place out of reach and the FA Cup final on Saturday evening, Dalglish rested key players such as Reina, Suarez and Gerrard. Chelsea are forced to take a more aggressive approach.

Realistically, perhaps, following Arsenal's weekend draw at Stoke, tonight's combatants plus Tottenham are all chasing fourth place, with one point separating all three. Tonight Spurs visit a Bolton side fighting for their top-flight survival - always a tricky proposition.

Newcastle have struggled more than the others in games between the top six clubs. With Man City next up, they have just one win under their belts so far. Chelsea's only wins came against those two teams.


- Match preview by chelseafc.com