Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has indicated that he will hand opportunities to many of the club's prospects against AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday evening.
As a result of failing to qualify for European competition, Chelsea are making a rare appearance at the second-round stage of the EFL Cup.
The Blues have been provided with a favourable tie on paper with League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon making the short trip to Stamford Bridge.
With Chelsea solely competing in the domestic tournaments during 2023-24, Pochettino stressed at a press conference on Tuesday that he is eager to win this trophy.
However, the Argentine suggested to reporters that he would be heavily rotating his side, with "four or five" youngsters in line to feature in the starting lineup.
Pochettino said: "We are thinking to start with XI players who can perform in the way we want. Our assessment and our risk, we are going to use four or five young guys.
"Chelsea always produces good talent, young kids, now it is about opportunity. It is not because it is our philosophy, it's because we need to bring young guys to the first team because we have some players who cannot play tomorrow.
"Part of the project is to produce players for the first team because the players and coaches are working so hard."
Defender Bashir Humphreys, midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, wide players Ian Maatsen and Diego Moreira and forward Mason Burstow all appear in line to start for the Premier League giants.
Noni Madueke is seemingly in line to make his first start of the season on the back of his recovery from injury, while it was also suggested that Marc Cucurella would start at left wing-back.
However, new goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic will not be making his debut after it was revealed that he was still awaiting the completion of a work permit.
Rather than start either of Lucas Bergstrom or Eddie Beach, Pochettino told the media that Robert Sanchez would retain his position between the sticks.
Before the press conference, Chelsea released an injury update which revealed that nine players remain in the treatment room, including Benoit Badiashile, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Armando Broja who are believed to be the closest to returning to action. body check tags ::
