Pochettino faces a crucial decision: bench Thiago Silva to test a promising Disasi-Colwill defensive duo.

Mauricio Pochettino appears to have a clear vision of his starting lineup for tonight's eagerly anticipated West London derby against Fulham.

The outcome of this final Premier League fixture of the weekend is of paramount importance for Chelsea, who find themselves perilously close to the lower echelons of the league table.

Pochettino's strategic choices are likely to be influenced by the performance of his team in this week's EFL Cup clash against Brighton, where they finally managed to secure a victory.

In that particular fixture, a substantially altered lineup was fielded at Stamford Bridge, affording several players who had previously seen limited opportunities the chance to shine.

The defensive lineup, in particular, underwent notable modifications, with Marc Cucurella demonstrating his versatility by excelling in an unfamiliar role on the right side of a four-man backline.

This tactical shift also facilitated Levi Colwill's relocation to a central defensive position, allowing him to exhibit his full potential.

In order for this successful formula to be replicated tonight, Pochettino faces the challenging decision of benching a player who has featured in every game this season, and that player is none other than Thiago Silva.

Although Silva has previously been lauded as 'world-class,' his performance this season has fallen below his customary high standards.

It appears that the current defensive configuration is structured with the aim of shielding the Brazilian stalwart, although there are valid concerns regarding the necessity of such protection.

Axel Disasi has been Silva's partner in defense throughout the season, and despite the lack of significant acclaim for his arrival in London, he has outperformed Silva thus far.

The prospect of deploying a central defensive partnership comprised of the Frenchman Disasi and Colwill is an experiment that warrants exploration in the near future.

Additionally, with the imminent return of Benoit Badiashile from injury, Silva may soon find himself contending for limited minutes on the pitch.