Chelsea starts their FA Cup journey against Charlton Athletic at Kingsmeadow.
Most of the scheduled FA Cup women's games have been postponed due to the Antarctic, which has left pitches to freeze. The women's pitches do not have under-grass heating like the main club stadiums.
This will be manager Sonia Bompastors first taste of English football heritage in hopes of adding a sixth FA Cup title to the Chelsea Women's long list of achievements.
Charlton entered the tournament in the previous round after they had beaten Lewes 4-0.
This is the first game back for both sides. Chelsea enjoyed their winter “sun” training camp in Portugal after struggling at the end of last season.
These two teams met over five years ago in this exact competition, with Chelsea winning 4-0
The Blues come into the match with a 16-game unbeaten run behind them, with all but one of those matches ending in victories after drawing to Leicester in the WSL.
Chelsea are six points clear at the top of the WSL, with 28 points, nine wins, and a draw.
While in Europe, they won their group and moved on to the quarter-finals.
While Charlton is in the championship and sits 8th in the league with only four wins in ten matches, their last game saw them draw with table leader Birmingham City.
Bompastor said: “I’ve heard many good and positive things about the FA Cup in England.
“As a coach and a squad, we are excited to start this competition.”
Bompastor said, “Charlton as a team has experience and some physical strengths.
“So, we are ready for that and excited because we know how big the FA Cup is in England.”
The travelling squad for the Portugal trip got fans in a tizzy about the possible return of Mia Fishel and Sam Kerr to the Blues after a lengthy time out due to ACL injuries.
However, Bompastor confirmed: “They are both still in their process. They are not fully back with the team, and it’s not time for their return yet.”
The manager also provided an update on Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd, who is ‘close to the group’ but ‘still not fit enough to be involved in this weekend’s squad.’
In a more positive light, Bompastor discussed Lauren James's fitness and return.
Bompastor said: “I am pleased as a coach.
“We want all the squad available at the end of the day.
“She [James] has a lot of skill and talent, which she proved in Portugal.
“Lauren James is a passionate player — it has been a long time coming, and she’s been working hard.”
Team news
Chelsea starting lineup:
Hampton | Bronze, Bright (c), Björn, Baltimore | Jean-François, Cuthbert | Reiten, James, Macario | Ramírez
Substitutes from: Musovic, Nüsken, Bernabé, Charles, Lawrence, Périsset, Kaptein, Hamano, Beever-Jones
Charlton Athletic starting XI:
Gray | Newsham, N’Dow, Pearse, Bradley, Filis, Brazil, Hutton, Barton, Muya, Skeels (c)
Substitutes from: Whitehouse, Siber, Bashford, O’Rourke, Primus, Chime, Mitchell-Ramon
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