CHELSEA chairman Ken Bates has challenged his players to prove their Champions League credentials at the Reebok on Saturday, describing this as a "defining weekend" for his team.

Having settled into third place in the table with a hard-earned 1-0 victory against Middlesbrough last weekend, Chelsea hope to show again that they have shaken off their notorious inconsistency.

Bates appreciates they face a tough challenge at the end of an international week, especially with captain Marcel Desailly having sustained a knee injury that looks certain to rule him out.

But he believes the Blues have finally turned the corner and now wants his players to prove it.

He said: "This is a defining weekend for the new Chelsea. In the past, this is the kind of game that we've performed very badly in after beating the best.

"But that's not been the story this season. If we're serious, then we need to win tomorrow and I've got a feeling that the guys are up for it."

Desailly's injury is a potential blow, given that the Chelsea captain has been in superb form alongside compatriot William Gallas at the heart of a defence which has kept five consecutive Premiership clean sheets.

John Terry is on standby to replace Desailly, who urged his team-mates earlier this week to ensure they are still in the top three at Christmas.

"The team are playing as a collective, which is a good thing," the Frenchman said.

"We haven't won anything but it looks like the spirit and the desire is quite high to stay near the top of the table. I hope we manage to keep this level up."