Chelsea's first leg victory over FC Copenhagen could prove to be a game that turns a faltering season into one which will end with a modicum of success.
The reigning Premier League champions are well off the pace in their domestic title race and were dumped out of the FA Cup by Everton after their FA Cup 4th round replay went to penalties leaving the Champions League, the prize that has continually eluded the club since Roman Abramovich pumped his millions into the club.
Three days after that shoot-out loss the Londoner's travelled to Denmark with manager Carlo Ancelotti under sustained pressure to turn things around and a Nicolas Anelka double sent the Chelsea faithful away with a glimmer of hope, a glimmer that was to grow nearly two weeks later after the clubs next game, a massive clash with league leaders Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
It didn't start too well either, Wayne Rooney driving home from twenty yards to give the visitors a 29th minute lead. It was down to David Luiz to score his first goal for the club and level up the match before Smalling fouled Zhirkov in the area to give Frank Lampard a chance from the spot, the penalty ace obliging with the winner. Off-form Blackpool were next to feel the wraith of a Chelsea machine slowly clicking into gear, Lampard snatching two with John Terry scoring the other in a 3-1 win.
A weekend off due to the FA Cup defeat followed meaning the Blues will go into tonight's game with the Danish champions as fresh as a field of daisies and the comfortable victory in the first leg means that Chelsea shouldn't have to raise their game too high to dispose of the visitors.
But there should be no room for complacency, Copenhagen manager Stale Solbakken has stated his intent by telling the media his team will go out and take the game to their more illustrious opponents.
"It is stupid to go into it defensive when you're behind 2-0.
"If we score they will be nervous. I can guarantee that. The key to the game is who scores the first goal.
"If we do, it will be the inverted psychology no matter how Chelsea has prepared for the game."
His side have also played two league games since the first leg, initially losing to FC Midtjylland, their only league defeat thus far this season, before claiming victory over Aalborg thanks to a Christian Bolanos goal. It looks as though the club will retain their league title while they have shown that they are no mugs in European competition either, claiming two wins over Panathinaikos and one over Rubin Kazan in the group stage as well as earning a 1-1 draw against the might of Barcelona.
In team news Alex will not be ready to return to the Chelsea squad due to a knee injury while Yossi Benayoun is still out with a long term injury.
For Copenhagen Zdenek Pospech is suspended having been booked in the first leg. Fellow defender Mikael Antonsson is out with a muscle injury.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has come out and said that he will rotate the team for tonight's game, a huge game at home to Manchester City coming up on Sunday. The Italian said:
"I want to rotate in this game, I didn't choose the team for tomorrow but I want to use rotation because we have all the players fit and I want to use all the players to prepare for these two games with Copenhagen and Manchester City.
"My best team is not just 11 players. I am happy in this moment because all the players are fit, Alex came back to train today in good condition and is ready for the next game, Benayoun will come back to train maybe Thursday or Friday with the team, so every player is fit and in good condition.
"This is a fantastic moment for us to have all the players fit and we want to maintain motivation for everyone, to have all the players fit in the next games of the Premier League and Champions League."
Chelsea fans will hope for a smooth passage through to the quarter final to join both Manchester United and Tottenham as English representatives in the last eight, but Copenhagen will come out and look to force the pace and if they get an early goal, well, let's not go there just yet.
HJBSports Twitter feed will keep you up to date with the goals and key moments from tonight's tie and look out for our match report that will be up shortly afterwards.
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