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It really couldn't have been a more difficult draw. Having reached the fourth round for the first time in four years we have been paired with the team sitting right on top of the Premier League, and just to make it a little more difficult it is away from home.
It is the first time we've played Chelsea in this competition and indeed the first time we've played Chelsea at all since the 1982/83 season. We went down that season but had we won the last game against Crystal Palace we would have actually finished above Chelsea in the league. That season we lost 2-1 at Stamford Bridge and won the return 3-0 at the Turf.
Brian Laws scored from the spot in the first game, therefore our last player to score at Stamford Bridge. The scorers in the last meeting were Billy Hamilton(2) and a Terry Donovan penalty.
I've had the good fortune to see us win twice at Chelsea. The first occasion was in the 1968/69 season. We were twice behind in that game but Dave Thomas scored the first equaliser and Doug Collins scored twice in three minutes just past the hour to win it for us.
Two seasons later, with relegation already confirmed, a goal from Steve Kindon was enough to give us a 1-0 win on a night when full back Harry Wilson made his Burnley debut.
Between those two wins there was a dramatic FA Cup tie. It was 0-0 past the hour but then Chelsea looked as though they'd won it with two goals in five minutes midway through the second half. Burnley sent central defender Martin Dobson up and he pulled one back with ten minutes to go and got a second seven minutes later to force a replay, one we lost 3-1 in extra time after being kicked senseless by a very physical Chelsea team that went on to win the cup.
If coming back from 2-0 down at the Bridge was exciting then at the beginning of the 1974/75 season we went in at half time 3-0 down and still came home with a draw. Ray Hankin, Dobson and Paul Fletcher got the goals.
Fletcher and Kindon, both mentioned above, scored the first and last goals in our last cup tie there in 1977/78 season. Unfortunately Chelsea scored six between them.
So I've seen us win there, draw there and even get hammered there, and now I'm looking forward to my first visit there in almost 26 years. The place will look a bit different than it did back then.
There's not much that can be said that hasn't already been said. Premier League champions in 2004/05 and 2005/06 and an appearance in the Champions League Final last season, and that just scratches the surface.
One of the richest of clubs since Roman Abramovich bailed out Ken Bates they have almost had a money is no object policy over the past five years or so but have proved to be an unpopular club amongst many football fans. This season, despite the fact that the odious Peter Kenyon is still there, they are playing some excellent football under new boss Luiz Philipe Scolari.
They have suffered just the two defeats, one to Liverpool in the league and last week away to Roma in the Champions League. They currently sit above Liverpool at the top of the league on goal difference.
I don't think anyone would bet against them winning the Premier League this coming season but our job is to put them out of the Carling Cup. You never know, if we play well, and I mean really well, and they have an off night ............... as I said, you never know.
Chelsea have confirmed that they are likely to rest some players for this game and we also know that injury rules out a few players. Two thought to be in with a chance of making it were Michael Ballack and Joe Cole but neither will be risked, although Didier Drogba is expected to return.
Predicting a line up is just about impossible so just check the link below to see their squad.
Owen Coyle will have to make changes. Steven Thompson must now be regretting being selected by Cardiff for their first round tie against Bournemouth but that appearance rules him out. Also out is Clarke Carlisle, he made the mistake of giving away two free kicks on Saturday and both cost him a yellow card resulting in him being out suspended.
Christian Kalvenes is ruled out with injury and Stephen Jordan and Steven Caldwell have been doubts this week but I expect both to play We'll also have seven subs for this game.
Burnley's expected line up: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Michael Duff, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson, Chris McCann, Chris Eagles, Robbie Blake, Martin Paterson. Subs: Diego Penny, Remco van der Schaaf, Kevin McDonald, Alan Mahon, Alex MacDonald, Jay Rodriguez, Ade Akinbiyi.