Ahead of Saturday evening's game at West Brom, Luiz Felipe Scolari has discussed the impact the continuing injury problems are having on his plans for Chelsea.

The Chelsea manager has so far been plagued with the squad fitness difficulties that were an unfortunate feature of the previous two campaigns - and there has been no easing of them ahead of the trip to the Midlands.

Alex, Juliano Belletti and Franco Di Santo all picked up injuries against Burnley and will not play this weekend. Joe Cole (hamstring) and Ricardo Carvalho (knee) remain out and Scolari announced on Friday morning ahead of training that he did not know whether Deco, withdrawn at half-time on Wednesday, will be able to play.

At least there are a couple of additions to the squad that will travel.

'Michael Ballack may be on the bench,' Scolari announced. 'I have 24 in the squad and six are out. Ashley Cole may be on the bench but not play because I need 18.'

Ballack is returning from foot surgery on a nerve problem while Cole has been out for two weeks with a calf injury. Scolari will be bringing in a couple of reserve team players to reinforce the squad.

'We have the same problems as when I started here,' he said.

'I lost three, four or five players every week and I recover one or two. It is time to recover all my players and start a normal season for me. At the moment, every week I build two teams.'

The impact has been minimised with Chelsea top of the Barclays Premier League and Champions League Group A but the biggest problem Scolari has encountered is limited chance to play different systems.

'We try to change sometimes but I need all the players. Sometimes I give new players the chance to play 20-to-30 minutes, then 45 minutes, but it is step-by-step. I don't have since I start the season the same group every game. It is very difficult to change the system when you don't train it. The game is the training.'

Even if Scolari won't have the ammunition to surprise West Brom tactically tomorrow, he is banking on the Chelsea players' determination to put the Carling Cup exit firmly behind them.

'Twice this season we lose one game and afterwards, play in the Premier League and win. We try to follow the same way as when we lost against Liverpool and lost against Roma.

'It is not easy to play away but sometimes we have more chances to win than when we play in Stamford Bridge. The clubs when we play away have pressure from their fans to win the game. At Stamford Bridge they play for a draw every time.

'If they don't score one goal, we win. If they score one goal, they close with 10 players and it is difficult.'

He will warn his players over complacency in what is a top v bottom encounter at The Hawthorns.

'What is also difficult in England is if you play first versus second, first versus third or fourth, it is the same as first against 18th.

'They don't want to go to the second division and they play for their life. But our players understand this and they know that if we want to win, we need to play the same as against the second and third placed teams - with character, with concentration.

'If we do this, we have a good chance.'

Felipe Scolari will be speaking exclusively on the West Brom game to Chelsea TV  tonight from 6.30pm. There will also be interviews with Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou.