Carlo Ancelotti will send out his strongest possible Chelsea side against Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday, despite already having qualified for the knockout stages.

There will be no blooding youngsters for experience and no thought of saving star players for next weekend's crucial Barclays Premier League clash against Arsenal.

It is a sign of how deep the Champions League resonates with Ancelotti, who has won the trophy twice as a manager and as a player with AC Milan.

New Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay recently insisted Chelsea's target was to win the trophy twice within the next five years. It is a challenge Ancelotti is happy to accept.

Ancelotti said: "That's not pressure. That is normal. The Champions League is the most important competition.

"I won it in 2003 and 2007 as a manager. As a player I won the Champions League in two years (1989 and 1990). So five years is a good period of time to try to win two Champions Leagues.

"It is an important game against Porto. We want to be in the first position in the group and this is the decisive game. We have to put out the best line-up. Afterwards we have time to rest and prepare for Arsenal."

Michael Ballack and Deco should be back from injuries to face Porto, who trail Chelsea by a point with nine after four matches in Group D.

Frank Lampard, who injured his thigh on England duty, will not feature until the match against Arsenal at the earliest.

Didier Drogba has been in training after recuperating from the rib injury he received in his clash with Manchester United defender Jonny Evans but Ancelotti has not yet decided whether to risk him against Porto.

"If he feels good in training he will play, if not he won't," said Ancelotti.

Ancelotti, however, is sure Chelsea have the quality to win the trophy. He is also certain the future of the club lies in youth and nurturing the academy youngsters rather than continually paying inflated transfer fees.

He said: "The quality and the organisation of the academy is very good. The scouting is very good and the training. Next season we would like to put some players from the academy in to the first team.

"Also if you buy a young player it costs you a lot less and then we can work with him to help him improve.

"A good mix is to have players of 28, 29, 30 with experience and to put with them young players because they have enthusiasm and motivation."

Ancelotti, with players such as 18-year-olds Gael Kakuta and Fabio Borini and 21-year-old Nemanja Matic poised to make first team breakthroughs, is committed to lowering the average age of his squad.

But one thing he would not want to change is the desire of men such as John Terry and Lampard and the rest of the English contingent at Stamford Bridge. He admits they have opened his eyes since he arrived in the summer.

Ancelotti said: "English players like to train every time at 100%. In Italy it is different. In Italy if we ask a player to train 50% we have to be sure he trains 50%.

"It is the same with a Brazilian. An English player is different. He has difficulty in training slow. He likes to train 100% every time.

"Sometimes I have to ask them to train a little calmer. But if I have to choose I prefer the players who work 100%."