Rejoice! Chelsea and football are back.
After a gruelling festive schedule, the international break was a gift to a pretty exhausted squad and a chance to recharge the batteries they greatly craved.
Saturday begins a run of fixtures across five different competitions in the FA Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Premier League and Carabao Cup. The first, against League One outfit Plymouth Argyle, offers Thomas Tuchel a rare chance to experiment with his squad before they travel to the UAE next week.
Chelsea comfortably saw off non-league Chesterfield 5-1 in the third round, and it offered some of the academy talents a chance to impress.
Chelsea must always be wary of the disastrous defeat to another League One outfit in Bradford back in 2015, but this game, more than any other, provides the best opportunity to hand fringe players minutes.
However, given the need for Chelsea's attack to show more consistency and rhythm, Tuchel may feel like starting with some of the players he fielded last time out against Spurs.
This Plymouth test also precedes the long-awaited FIFA Club World Cup. A tournament Chelsea has yet to win. Back in 2012, the Blues failed to capture the trophy after winning the Champions League seven months earlier.
There is a desperation for Tuchel to rectify that next week.
Here is my go at selecting two different lineups the German could choose as Chelsea aims to restart their campaign in fine fashion.
LINEUP 1 (3-4-2-1): Bettinelli, Chalobah, Christensen, Sarr, Azpilicueta, Saul, Kovacic, Kenedy, Ziyech, Werner, Havertz
I'm very much sticking with the vibe Tuchel went for in the third round but injecting a couple of very fringe names.
Trevoh Chalobah is back from injury, and this is a perfect time to reintegrate him into first-team action. Both Andreas Christensen and Malang Sarr feel certainties as Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger are rested.
But Kenedy, who Tuchel spoke about in his pre-match press conference, is given a shock start at left wingback after returning from loan.
Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have very much been on the edge of Chelsea's squad in the past month. Both need a strong start as they aim to get back into the starting lineup.
LINEUP 2 (4-1-4-1): Kepa, Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Christensen, Alonso, Saul, Ziyech, Kovacic, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi, Lukaku
This is very much going for a stronger lineup first to get the job done before Tuchel looks toward utilising the five subs he has for the FA Cup.
It would keep six of the eleven who started last time out and offer fringe players the chance for more minutes. The only downside here is the lack of chances for exciting Cobham talent.
It also would keep the 4-1-4-1 formation which seems suitable without Ben Chilwell or Reece James for the time being.
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