There is nothing quite like an ancient grudge match to revive the spirits and consign a painful disappointment to memory. Tonight's meeting between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge presents such an opportunity.

It is the two clubs' first meeting in the competition since the famously bruising 1970 final replay. The 'Kings of the King’s Road' defeated the ‘Pride of Yorkshire’ 2-1 after extra time that day to lift the trophy, and fate has since kept them apart in the FA Cup.

Of course, Chelsea and Leeds have faced off in the Premier League. The last meeting came under a year ago when the respective managers in the dugout were Graham Potter and Javi Gracia.

Chelsea came out victorious that day – Wesley Fofana scored the only goal of the game with a header – and tonight Chelsea have the chance to win a seventh consecutive home fixture against Leeds for the first time.

Both required a replay to reach this stage of the world's oldest club competition. The Whites won 4-1 after extra time at Plymouth; Chelsea completed an impressive 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Tonight's game must be settled on the night and both clubs will know the opposition that awaits them in the last eight with the draw taking place 30 minutes before kick-off at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have won 12 of the previous 14 FA Cup fixtures that we have hosted and progressed from our last three fifth-round ties that were played between 2020 to 2022.

Leeds, meanwhile last ventured beyond round five 21 years ago and lost to our neighbours Fulham at this stage last season.

Chelsea team news

If Pochettino was minded to make changes after Sunday's strenuous extra-time efforts at Wembley, his options have been further limited by the news that Christopher Nkunku is sidelined for up to four weeks.

Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella are back in partial team training but are unlikely to return to the matchday squad while six other players are still undertaking their respective rehabilitation programmes.

Pochettino could opt to bring in senior figures that didn't start at Wembley, such as the returning Trevoh Chalobah, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke.

There may also be opportunities for younger attacking players such as Brazilian Deivid Washington, who scored for the Under-21s on Monday night, Leo Castledine and striker Ronnie Stutter, both of whom struck against Leeds in PL2 earlier this month.

As impressive as the visitors’ backline has been this season, Chelsea will hope to pressure them into the kind of mistake that has regularly led to attempts on Illan Meslier’s goal in the second tier.

Our leading scorer from the previous two rounds is Enzo Fernandez with one in each round; five others have notched once.

Goal contributions in all competitions 2023/24

Opposition scout: Leeds

No lower-league side has won at the Bridge in the FA Cup since Bradford City in 2015, but Leeds will arrive in west London unbeaten in 2024 and victorious in their six away games in all competitions.

Daniel Farke's side are the fourth-highest scorers in the Championship this season and boast its tightest defence, which is marshalled impressively by former Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu.

Leeds play a possession-based game yet are bold and pacy upfront. They have the potential to break quickly through weaving wingers Wilfried Gnonto, Daniel James, and sprightly goal-threat Crysencio Summerville.

A right-footer who often cuts in from the left, Summerville is the Whites’ leading marksman this season with 16 goals in all competitions.

Although Chelsea Academy graduate Patrick Bamford has recovered from a knock and is in contention to feature this evening, Joel Piroe is expected to continue leading the Leeds frontline.

Frenchman Georginio RutTter has, meanwhile, proved more influential in a deeper role this term, scoring seven goals and assisting 13 on all fronts.

Full-back Sam Bryam and centre-back Pascal Struijk are injured along with keeper Karl Darlow. Right-back Connor Roberts is eligible despite being named on the bench for his previous club Burnley against Tottenham Hotspur in round three.

Chelsea vs Leeds: The FA Cup history

The gods of football looked down on the dramatic, pulsating, and violent encounter between Chelsea and Leeds at Old Trafford on 28 April 1970 and felt, ‘We can’t go through that again’.

It’s as reasonable an explanation as any as to why these two sides have never met since in England’s most sacred cup competition.

That famous replay, required after an equally feisty 2-2 draw at Wembley, produced so many controversial incidents that, officiated under today’s conditions, reduced numbers on each side might have played stoppage time into the early hours of the Manchester night.

• You can read all about that wicked and wonderful evening here.

The roots of the mutual dislike between the two clubs are many, including encounters in the FA Cup a few years earlier. Tommy Doherty’s Diamonds edged both 1-0 thanks to Bobby Tambling at this stage at the Bridge in 1966, and Tony Hateley in the semi-finals a year later.

That last-four game was played at Villa Park and Leeds’ squad, coaches and supporters were apoplectic when the referee ruled a late free-kick equaliser had been taken too soon.

The League Cup has matched the pair a couple of times this century. Both ended in victories for Chelsea at Elland Road: 2-0 in November 2001 and 5-1 in December 2012.

Chelsea vs Leeds: FA Cup meetings

FA Cup fifth round regulations

From this round of the FA Cup, each tie will be decided on the day. There are no replays.

Should the score be level after 90 minutes, an additional 30 minutes of extra time will be played and, if necessary, the winner will be determined by penalty kicks.

Five substitutions are permitted, plus an extra sixth if additional time is required. VAR is in operation.