No easy ride for Chelsea, insists Tony Pulis

Antonio Conte's team arrive in the West Midlands knowing three points will secure them a sixth top-tier championship.

Pulis will be without winger Matt Phillips again, although centre-back Jonny Evans is expected to play and striker Hal Robson-Kanu will be on the bench.

And the Welshman has promised to do his 'damndest' to stop Chelsea from winning the title at The Hawthorns. "Firstly you've got to give Antonio and the players credit because they've got a chance of doing the double," he said.

"They deserve to be where they are, they've been the most consistent team in the league this year and they come to our place with a chance of winning it.

"Whether they celebrate on our pitch or back at Stamford Bridge, they deserve to be where they are for what they've done so far.

"We'll give it our best. We have a responsibility to our supporters. We're still chasing a points tally that will keep us in eighth position so we have a lot to play for.

"We're looking forward to the game, the players have been very good this week.

Albion will secure their second-ever highest Premier League points tally should they win, and Pulis confirmed the Baggies wouldn't simply roll over for the champions-elect.

"There's three points riding on it for them and us," he said. "We're doing our damndest to make it a competitive game and a good game. I don't think Antonio will expect anything different." Demand for tickets has risen since Chelsea beat Middlesbrough on Monday night.

Seats in the away end are being put up for sale online for more than £1,700 and tickets in the home end have also been put on the black market.

Yesterday, the club issued a statement saying they would take a 'zero tolerance approach' to reselling tickets and any supporters found doing so would be banned from The Hawthorns.

But Pulis, who leapt to defend the majority of his supporters, is more worried about how his team performs on the field.

“That's neither here nor there for me, I'm more concerned about what happens on the pitch” the manager said.

“I'll think it will be a great atmosphere, I think it'll be absolutely fantastic. We're looking forward to giving a good account of ourselves. It's important for us."

West Brom have good reason to be optimistic, having lost just once to the Blues in their last five home games, winning three.

They will still be without Phillips, who misses out with a hamstring injury, although Evans will play through the ankle twist he picked up last weekend.

"Matty Phillips won't be fit," confirmed Pulis. "Hal will have a fitness test today and even if he is fit, he'll just be fit for the bench.

"We're hoping Jonny will be fit, we'll wheel him out whatever happens and take it from there."