Chelsea Gary Cahill Ashley Cole
Chelsea defender Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill have a word during a training session on the eve of their Champions League match against Steaua Bucharest, December 10. Reuters

Chelsea will look to seal top spot in Group E as well as put their troubles in the English Premier League behind them when they host bottom side Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League.

The Blues are coming off a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Stoke at the weekend, and having already qualified for the knockout rounds, despite losing to FC Basel in the last matchday, Jose Mourinho wants to end the group phase on a high.

"I'm going to give a little rest to a couple of players -- but we need to win and our team for certain positions is a very strong squad," Mourinho said. "[Steaua have] got three draws. They didn't lose against Schalke once and against Basel twice -- and they are going to try to do the same tomorrow [Wednesday].

"We have to win, not just to finish first but to have the good feeling to win at home and finish with 12 points. If you told me now that tomorrow we finish first with one point because of the other result I don't want it. I want to have the feeling of winning the game tomorrow. Difficult, but I think we can.

"We are creating a lot, we are playing very nice football -- but we have to kill opponents. We have to score goals."

Chelsea currently lead the group with nine points from five matches, one more than Basel, who play Schalke on Wednesday, with the German side a further point adrift. Steaua are out of the running and will play for pride at Stamford Bridge.

"We expect a difficult game, it's the last of this group phase but I know we have no pressure on us -- I just hope our players make a good game of it," Steaua manager Lorentiu Reghecampf said on the eve of the match.

"Often when you have no pressure there can be a bit of a danger in that you can relax - but I think my players have understood this and I am sure they have taken it into consideration and will give a good account of themselves. I know Chelsea very well and I can only say I hope my players have a very good game tomorrow.

"It is a pity we are in this situation. Initially I was hoping this would be an important game where we had the chance to qualify for the next round or the Europa League, but of course now the priority is the domestic league - that is not to say we will not give everything tomorrow though.

"We know it will be very difficult because Chelsea want to finish top of the group and they know they have to win to do that. But I just hope we give them a good game."

Team news: Chelsea: David Luiz and Oscar, who missed the loss to Stoke, are doubts, with Marco Van Ginkel a long-term absentee.

Steaua Bucharest: Alexandru Bourceanu is suspended for the Romanian side, while Lucian Filip remains sidelined with a broken leg.

Where to Watch Live

The game is scheduled for a 1.15 am IST start on Thursday morning with live coverage on Ten Sports in India. You can also catch the match via live streaming by clicking HERE. Viewers in the U.S. can do the same by clicking HERE. To catch the action courtesy live streaming in the U.K., click HERE. Middle East and North Africa viewers click HERE.

Expected lineups: Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Willian, Mata, Schurrle, Eto'o.

Steaua Bucharest: Tatarusanu, Szukala, Gardos, Latovlevici, Varela, Tanase, Bourceanu, Popa, Stanciu, Iancu, Piovaccari.

Prediction: 3-0 to Chelsea