Chelsea ready to chop and change; FOOTBALL.

BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Chelsea v Coventry City CHELSEA manager Gianluca Vialli could add another Italian name to his famous rotation system tonight with 19-year-old defender Sam Dalla Bona a candidate for the FA Cup finalists' squad against the Sky Blues at Stamford Bridge.

Vialli, who made six changes for Sunday's semi-final triumph over Newcastle from the starting line-up which scored a spectacular 3-1 triumph over Champions League favourites Barcelona just five days earlier, has played back-to-back unchanged teams only in the opening two games this season.

And he is certain to tamper with a winning team again tonight to again confound critics of his chop-and-change policy.

Vialli only has to point to Chelsea's results -- just one Premiership defeat since December - as justification for his methods, but despite a 2-1 victory on Sunday at Wembley he was less than impressed with his side's performance and admitted they were lucky winners against Newcastle.

Now he's ready to freshen things up again and then evaluate the performance ahead of Saturday's visit to Sheffield Wednesday. And the 6ft 1in Dalla Bona, who scored a cracking goal in the reserves against Arsenal on Monday night before being withdrawn at half-time, could be on the bench, at least, tonight.

The former Atalanta junior has, in fact, already played in a Champions League match for Chelsea - appearing as an 87th-minute substitute in the 3-1 home win over Holland's Feyenoord in November.

He has been on the bench on four other occasions in the Premiership and is seen as one of the club's brightest young prospects.

Not even the closest Chelsea-watcher can now predict Vialli's team selections with any certainty, although he claims he informs his players of the line- up well in advance of every match.

"I know players are hurt when they are left out, especially when it is a really big game in the Champions League or an FA Cup semi-final," he said.

"But I always explain to them why I am making changes and I think most of them accept it is for the good of the club as a whole.

"I went for experience on Sunday when Gus Poyet came in for Jody Morris, who had done a wonderful job for us against Barcelona.

"I could see the disappointment in Jody when I told him he would not even be on the bench, just as I could see the disappointment in Gus when I left him out against Barcelona.

"But Sunday was the end of eight very successful, yet extremely demanding, eight days for us.

"We won at Leeds, against Barcelona and then against Newcastle, but the last 20 minutes were all about having enough spirit to get us through against a team who played better than us for long periods.

"It can be like this sometimes and you cannot risk having too many tired players on the pitch in games like that. I think they understand this."

Poyet, two-goal hero against Newcastle, seems likely to get the nod again tonight, playing wide on the left of the midfield with England Under-21 cap Morris recalled in a central partnership with skipper Dennis Wise.

Didier Deschamps, Marcel Desailly and Albert Ferrer - who is troubled by a long-term ankle niggle - look the main candidates for a rest this time.

And with pounds 10million striker Chris Sutton sustaining a thigh injury on Sunday, Vialli looks certain to recall top-scorer Tore Andre Flo as front- line partner for George Weah, who is ineligible for next Tuesday's return with Barcelona in the Nou Camp.

Emerson Thome, the pounds 2.5million centre-back signing from Sheffield Wednesday, who is cup-tied and will not be available for the May 20 final against Aston Villa, is also likely to be restored to the side tonight while Celestine Babayaro is back from international duty with Nigeria and could displace Jon Harley at left back.

Chelsea, though, will lose Babayaro again when Nigeria play their return World Cup qualifier against Eritrea.

It means he will miss League games against Middlesbrough, at home, and Manchester United away.

DANGERMAN: Gustavo Poyet THE SKY BLUES will need to be prepared for Uruguay midfielder Gustavo Poyet, who is likely to be fired up following his Wembley brace that booked Chelsea's return to the twin towers to face Villa in the FA Cup Final.

Former Real Zaragoza midfielder Poyet was determined to impress at Wembley, after missing out on the Champions League quarter final tie against Barcelona. He made his point to his manager in the best possible style with the two stunning strikes that sank Newcastle.

Poyet has not started any of Chelsea's last four Premiership games but should he play, then City will have to be on their guard against the powerful goal-scoring midfielder. The season began in style for Poyet with a spectacular strike against Sunderland, and he has gone on to score seven league goals so far.

He is the Blues second top scorer in the league behind Tore Andre Flo and defences have been undone by his physical presence and finishing ability. His seven goals have come from 64 attempts, 24 of which were on target.