Chelsea host Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the final game of the season, with Guus Hiddink taking charge of his last game.
The Dutch tactician was appointed as interim boss following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December, and he has certainly added a sense of stability in another solid spell at the helm.
As he prepares to step aside for Antonio Conte ahead of his arrival in the summer, he will hope to sign off with a win against the Premier League champions who arrive in west London having already wrapped up, and celebrated, their league success.
Thibaut Courtois missed out against Liverpool due to illness but is expected to return between the posts, with Cesar Azpilicueta, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill and Adbul Baba Rahman forming his defence.
John Terry misses out through suspension, while Rahman played well at Anfield and will likely hold on to his place with Ivanovic donning the captain’s armband.
In midfield, Willian and John Obi Mikel are expected to start with Cesc Fabregas, with Nemanja Matic the man to miss out. Much depends on the fitness of Ivanovic, as if the Serbian veteran starts, it will allow Mikel to return to his favoured midfield position.
With Diego Costa also missing out through injury, Betrand Traore will be deployed as part of a front three with in-form Eden Hazard hoping to maintain his impress run to end the season in style with Pedro on the opposite flank.
It has largely been a season to forget for last year’s Premier League champions. As they look ahead to what they hope will be a bright future under Conte, they will hope to end the year with something to shout about with Claudio Ranieri also likely to receive a warm welcome on his return to his former club.
