West Brom v Chelsea preview - It’s a big night for the Baggies as well

But while it may not get much recognition on the evening in question, this is also an incredibly important moment for the Baggies.

The last home game of the season has thrown up a chance to sign off an impressive campaign in style in front of the home fans.

This time last year, Tony Pulis played party-pooper at White Hart Lane. Tonight, he will try and thwart another London club at The Hawthorns.

If he does, then Albion will reach their second-ever highest points tally in the Premier League and move within striking distance of their best.

But it’s fair to say ‘ifs’ don’t get much bigger. Chelsea have won 25 of their last 29 league games. No team has scored more goals this season, and they’ve struck 10 in their last three. They will be worthy champions.

But Pulis nearly frustrated Antonio Conte’s team at Stamford Bridge in December, when his back six came 15 minutes within a goalless draw before Diego Costa ruthlessly pounced on a Gareth McAuley mistake.

“We did really well there,” said Pulis. “It was only Gareth’s mistake at the end that hurt us.

“We did worked very hard on certain things. Those certain things, we’ve picked up and tweaked.”

Chelsea can expect another backs-to-the-wall effort tonight, but Pulis is keen to use the ball better on the rare occasions Albion will have it.

“We’ve been telling the players what we need to do out of possession and in possession, but in possession more so because obviously there’s spaces in different areas when they play that shape,” he said. “It’s great to have a different manager come in and play a different system that gives you different problems, so you have to find a solution to those problems.”

Chelsea’s 3-4-3 system has swept almost every team aside since Conte switched to it after losing to Arsenal. But at Stamford Bridge, Matt Phillips and Chris Brunt nullified Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso.

Phillips remains sidelined with a hamstring problem and James McClean, who was man of the match last time out, will be asked to use his boundless energy in a frantic battle up and down the wing.

Pulis is a huge fan of Conte, and there are plenty of similarities between the pair.

“They’re a very well coached team,” said the Baggies boss. “Everything is built on a solid foundation. He could do the double, which is a fantastic achievement.

“It’s funny how things spin around. Seven or eight years ago, Arsene Wenger was an absolute genius. He was a teacher and a prophet because of how he sat there, never got involved in the game and just worked things out from his seat. Now Conte is an absolute genius from going mad and bouncing up and down on the touchline. It’s amazing how it changes.”

Words said with a knowing smile from Albion’s own touchline-twerker, but while the managers may rival each other in sideline passion, on the pitch there will be a clear favourite.

Two years ago Albion thumped a title-winning Chelsea team 3-0 at The Hawthorns in May, but then, the visitors had already won the league.

This year, they are one more game from the finishing line, and it’s going to take one hell of a performance to stop them.

Jonny Evans is expected to start after limping off last weekend with an ankle twist, but Hal Robson-Kanu will only be fit enough for the bench at best.

Eden Hazard

The Belgian wizard has scored 15 goals in 33 league games this season, and has been let loose in Antonio Conte’s devastating 3-4-3 formation. Arguably the best dribbler in the league, a mix of quick feet, low centre of gravity, and powerful frame makes it nigh-on impossible to take the ball off him.

Likely line-ups

Albion (4-1-4-1): Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Fletcher (c); Brunt, Livermore, Morrison, McClean, Rondon. Substitutes: Myhill (gk), K Wilson, M Wilson, Yacob, Field, Chadli, Robson-Kanu.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Moses, Matic, Kante, Alonso; Hazard, Costa, Pedro. Substitutes: Begovic (gk), Zouma, Chalobah, Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Batshuayi.