RAFA FACES SELECTION TROUBLE IN RUBIN TODAY

Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that either David Luiz or Nathan Ake will start at left-back against Rubin Kazan on Thursday.

Ashley Cole is out after damaging his hamstring during last week's win over Manchester United, whilst Ryan Bertrand has not travelled to Moscow due to a virus.

And the Spaniard has suggested that he could be forced to find an unusual solution to his selection crisis at full-back for the Europa League quarter-final second-leg clash.

"David Luiz has also played as a left full-back before so maybe he can be an option," Benitez said on Wednesday.

"I have an idea but we will train today, see how everything is, and after we will decide. I don't think it would be a big problem for Ake if he has to play there. He has played for us and trained with us."

The Blues go into the game with a 3-1 aggregate lead but Benitez is taking nothing for granted ahead of playing on the synthetic Luzhniki Stadium pitch.

"We have a lot of respect for Rubin Kazan. We know they are a good team. For us to lose (players) is not ideal, we have to manage the situation and we have confidence we can go through," he said.

"In terms of the game I think we know their team so they can do well, so maybe we have to react but I have confidence we can do well anyway. I don't see too many surprises.

"You have to play on a synthetic pitch and adapt to that but it will be the same for everyone."