Albion need all guns blazing at Chelsea

Few people would have predicted Albion to be sitting above Chelsea in the table at this stage of the season when the fixture list was released in the summer.

But even though the Baggies are three points and two places above the champions, they still go into tonight's match as underdogs.

Gone is the limp, lacklustre Chelsea team of the first half of the season. Under interim manager Guus Hiddink there are signs the London team are returning to their frightening best.

The players who underperformed so shockingly for his predecessor Jose Mourinho seem to be making up for lost time.

Striker Diego Costa has four goals in his last three games and the club are unbeaten in five.

Now appears to be the worst time to play Chelsea, not that it's bothering West Brom boss Tony Pulis, who's focusing more on his own preparations.

He said: "The so-called top four or five teams, there has been no-one that consistent.

"I remember right, at the beginning of the season, Arsene Wenger was taking a bit of criticism at Arsenal. It ebbs and flows, even for the top teams.

"We have organised our schedule, not just for the Chelsea game but for the game after and the game after. Everything over the next two weeks has been pre-planned, organised and set up."

Albion have also got last season's top scorer firing after a distracted spell in the shadows. So far, Pulis's decision to leave striker Saido Berahino on the bench has been vindicated.

The Baggies have won their past two league games and only failed to find the net once in their last nine matches in all competitions.

Berahino scored against Bristol City in the FA Cup on Saturday, just four minutes after coming on.

That, coupled with the poor finishing of Salomon Rondon and Rickie Lambert, suggests now is the time to start the 22-year-old.

Pulis sees it differently. In his eyes, players who have worked hard for the team all season are more deserving.

He said: "The games coming up, whether we start him or he is on the bench, we will pick the team we think can win us the game.

"His attitude coming off the bench on Saturday was first-class. The fact he got the goal as well.

"There is a group of players here who have worked really hard for the club all year. That is the big thing.

"We want everyone to be together and working and focused on playing for West Bromwich Albion.

"That has always been my remit to everyone, at every club I have been. The team is the most important thing."

Saturday's draw and the subsequent replay at Ashton Gate next Tuesday means Albion are currently one game into a daunting run of five matches in 15 days.

Coming off the back of the busy Christmas schedule, the small squad is being stretched to its limits.

Pulis said: "If you can manage it properly and well, players should be able to cope with the games.

"If you watch teams in years past, the successful teams winning every week, their players don't seem to be tired at all.

"It's the teams that lose every week, the players seem to get a little bit tired and pick up injuries. I'm a great believer that it's not just physically, it's mentally as well.

"The important thing at this stage of the season is to make sure they're clear in their minds and focused as much as anything else."

Albion's treatment table has been relatively empty for the majority of this season.

Having Ben Foster back from injury allows Pulis to use two trusted goalkeepers should he need to.

Apart from that, the only players carrying injuries are Victor Anichebe and Jonas Olsson. Both pulled their hamstrings against Newcastle at the end of December.

Pulis said: "We're hoping both will be close. Whether they'll be ready we're not sure, but we're hoping they'll be close for Wednesday.

"Fingers crossed they'll definitely be ready for Southampton on Saturday."