Antonio Conte is preparing to take a Champions League gamble and rest both Álvaro Morata and Eden Hazard as he seeks to finally stamp his managerial mark on the competition.

Chelsea return to the Champions League with an opening Group C game against Qarabag at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, ahead of much tougher tests against Atlético Madrid and Roma.

Having won the Champions League once and reached four finals as a player, Conte has never made it past the quarter-final stage as a coach.

But neither his personal record nor the need for a fast start in Europe will stop Conte making a number of changes for the visit of Qarabag with a view to Sunday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal.

Michy Batshuayi is expected to start ahead of Morata, who scored his third Premier League goal against Leicester City on Saturday, while Conte revealed Hazard will again start on the substitutes’ bench and Davide Zappacosta is in line to make his first Stamford Bridge appearance. Captain Gary Cahill is set to return from suspension and Andreas Christensen could get a rare chance.

“Eden is in the squad and is working very well towards the best physical condition, but I think he needs a bit more time to continue to improve and to not to take stupid risks with him. Now he’s available and will be on the bench,” said Conte.