The Cardiff clash pits England’s top teams against each other again a week before the real action starts in earnest.

But Chelsea’s Icelandic international striker Eidur Gudjohnsen revealed that Jose Mourinho’s side will not be taking it easy. "There's a trophy to be won and we want to win it," he said.

The two London clubs have swapped the top two places in the Premiership for the past two seasons and have also met in memorable FA Cup and Champions League clashes. They naturally have a keen, but healthy rivalry.

"I don't think the rivalry's developed over the last season, I think it's been going on for years," Gudjohnsen added. "They're always good games, they've always been good footballing games and I hope they'll continue like that.

"When you look at the games we had last year between us and Arsenal everything was done on the pitch. High quality games, high intensity, no one pulling out of any tackles but handshakes after and get on with it. I think that's the way the game should be played."

Chelsea’s regular summer spree in the transfer market makes them clear favourites to retain the FA Barclays Premiership title. The first battle, for Gudjohnsen, will be just to get into the star-studded side.

He said: "I think we've got a very strong squad but we've always had a lot of quality and there's always been high competition for places. You just have to do your best, put your name forward and when your chance comes along you have to grab it with both hands.

"You're a professional so you train as hard as you can but I don't think we live in that fear, that you can't make any mistakes. Mistakes are what you learn from and make it better.

"The pressure is definitely as much as last year and the expectation's very high because people expect us to retain the title. There's always pressure that comes with that but we enjoy it.

"As professionals we live on the pressure and you just have to perform and deal with it. It's not that different [from last year], we go into the season wanting to win again, that's the way we see it."