The Blues were held to a goalless draw against BK Hacken in the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Thursday, a result which leaves us two points behind the Swedes in Group D ahead of the return fixture in Gothenburg next week.

Our next assignment sees the focus shift to WSL matters – and Bristol City are the opposition at Ashton Gate for what is our final league fixture of the year.

Chelsea will be looking to sign off from domestic duties in 2023 in style and ensure we begin the new year top of the table.

Hayes believes Bristol City will prove a tough unit to break down. However, the Chelsea manager believes we can achieve victory with better decision-making and greater efficiency in the final third.

‘Bristol are going to play five at the back and we’ll have the same sort of challenges [as against Hacken]. But if we can find a blue shirt, can put the ball into the right areas in the right moments, I’m sure we’ll be fine.’

Hayes delved deeper into what we can expect from Lauren Smith’s side, recognising a resilience to their game, and says the match against Hacken was the ‘perfect preparation’ for the challenge which lies ahead on Sunday.

‘Like Hacken, she (Lauren Smith) will make it difficult for us. You see their result against Arsenal, they’re actually eighth in the league in terms of xG conceded. So they don’t give up as many clear-cut chances as you may think.

‘So we know we’ll have to be better [than against Hacken] because it will be a similar type of game. In that respect, it was the perfect preparation for the weekend.’

Melanie Leupolz and Ashley Lawrence are expected to return to training ahead of the journey to Bristol, while Hayes hinted at the possibility of 19-year-old Japanese forward Maika Hamano being involved in some capacity.

‘Mel is training on Friday. Ashley will be training on Saturday and maybe even Maika will be in the squad. She scored a goal in the academy game the other day…brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

'She’s a young talent and sometimes we expect our young talent to come in and think they’re going to do this and that. But there is a physicality to senior football and it’s going to take a couple of years to develop that. No question.

‘But she has individual attributes that are game-changing. Maika Hamano is going to be a top, top player.’