The noise at Wednesday's final whistle will just about have died down by the time Stamford Bridge fills again for another knockout match. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton set the scene for Sunday's action.

Ever since first winning it in 1970 Chelsea have had a love affair with the FA Cup, though the affection was unrequited for many years. Since 1997, however, the team has reached the fifth round or better 16 times in 19 attempts (including this season) and the final six times. This is Chelsea's sixth FA Cup quarter-final in seven seasons - more than any other side over that period.

The Blues are now consistently high-achievers in this age-old competition, and have not been beaten over 90 minutes since March 2008, a sequence of 20 games. In contrast the Foxes are desperate to reach their first semi-final since 1982.

Should it be good portents you seek, Chelsea have twice accounted for the Foxes in the hunt for FA Cup success: in 1997 and 2000.

There is a similar resonance with previous opponents in our 2012 campaign so far. Third round opposition Portsmouth were also beaten en route to winning the trophy in 1997 and 2010, while QPR (fourth round) and Birmingham City (fifth), were both seen off by Ossie and co. on the march to glory in 1970.

Leicester will not fear the hosts. They conquered Premier League opposition away in the previous round - although it's fair to say Norwich City, beaten 2-1, might consider their key priority is to remain in the top flight, with key players such as Grant Holt rested.

In the Championship last weekend the Foxes came from behind against our vanquished FA Cup foes Birmingham. The 3-1 victory provided some relief for manager Nigel Pearson, whose team had lost their previous two league matches, conceding three times in both.

Leicester will be well-backed too: six thousand City fans will descend on the Fulham Road - the biggest away contingent at the Bridge this season.

Home supporters will need to be in good voice again too. We all know the power of the Stamford Bridge crowd is not harnessed as regularly as it could be, but during Wednesday's magnificent Champions League victory over Napoli it made a tangible difference.

'On this ground you can't hear a thing,' admitted Azzurri defender Paolo Cannavaro. 'There was a shout [to teammate Hugo Campagnaro] to leave the ball but it was crazy out there.' The drowning out of that communication led directly to Chelsea's vital second goal.

The media focused on the 'old guard' but younger players such as Daniel Sturridge, Ramires, Juan Mata, David Luiz will grow from Wednesday's induction into what it means to be a Chelsea player. Sturridge, Mata and Luiz will now most likely play in their first Champions League quarter-finals, Ramires only his second.

The better organised among Blues supporters will have already booked their European flights and days off before the FA Cup match kicks off on Sunday. The managers of Chelsea and Leicester, if they are planning ahead, will instead be taking into account crucial away league matches looming on Wednesday evening, and may well select their teams accordingly.

Still on the Premier League, Newcastle are already out of the FA Cup and host Norwich on Sunday. A win for the Geordies would push the Blues down to sixth in the table, albeit with a game in hand.
If Chelsea and Leicester are drawing after the 90 minutes there will be a replay at King Power Stadium (renamed from Walkers Stadium last year). The date is yet to be confirmed.

The draw for the FA Cup semi-finals is on Sunday at approx 6.05pm and will be broadcast on ITV1. Matches will be played at Wembley on Saturday/Sunday 14/15 April.


- Match preview by Chelseafc.com