Jose Mourinho refuses to accept Chelsea are favourites to win the English Premier League as the Blues bid to maintain pole position against struggling Fulham on Saturday.
Mourinho's team hold a one-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal and, with third-placed Manchester City in League Cup final action against Sunderland on Sunday, the Blues have an opportunity to pull clear of one of their main rivals.
Chelsea will make the short trip across west London expecting to take all three points, given Fulham's position at the bottom of the ladder and Chelsea's seven-game unbeaten record at Craven Cottage.
But Mourinho is adamant City, three points behind Chelsea, remain the leading title candidates.
"We are top of the table because Man City have one match in hand. If they win that match, we are not top of the table."
Mourinho also believes Chelsea's hectic schedule, with his team back in action three days after a gruelling Champions League draw against Galatasaray in Turkey, could work against them if fatigue sets in.
"It makes the players' job difficult, not my job. I can play a match every day. It is not a problem for me or the people who make the fixtures."
If the leaders suffer a shock slip against Felix Magath's team, Arsenal will hope to capitalise by regaining top spot with a rare victory at Stoke.
Arsene Wenger's side have won only one of their past five visits to the Britannia Stadium and the fixture has often proved especially bruising for the sometimes fragile Gunners.
Wenger was forced to fend off criticism for giving Arsenal's players two days off this week, and the French coach admitted he has yet to decide whether to recall German midfielder Mesut Ozil, who missed last weekend's win over Sunderland with a hip injury and has struggled to reach top form of late.
"He (Ozil) had a difficult game because he missed that penalty, and it was on his mind.
"Sometimes when you're under this kind of pressure, it's good to refresh.
"My opportunity is just to put the best team out who can win the game. It's not about individuals - it's about the team."
Fourth-placed Liverpool head to Southampton looking to keep their grip on the final Champions League berth and keep in touch with Chelsea.
Brendan Rodgers' team sit four points behind the leaders having emerged as surprise title contenders.
The Reds' positive mood was threatened this week following Rodgers' decision to haul off Danish defender Daniel Agger just over an hour in last weekend's 4-3 win over Swansea.
Agger had been well below his best, prompting speculation he might be sold in the off-season.
But, in a bid to show his support for Agger, Rodgers confirmed 48 hours before kick-off that the Dane would start at St Mary's.
