The stakes are high for both clubs, and Leicester will head into the game after a rare week of frustration. Maresca is banned from the technical area after his third booking of the season in the 3-1 defeat at Coventry last weekend.
There was also widespread surprise when Chelsea exercised the recall of Cesare Casadei from his loan on Friday, after the midfielder missed an agreed number of appearances.
Yet Maresca is backing his players to continue their title charge and believes his experience of winning the Treble with Pep Guardiola last season could prove invaluable.
“It can help us, for sure, and understand how difficult it is to be there, and to continue to be there,” he said. “All the teams in the Championship come here – and when we go away – they are trying to beat Leicester.
“That requires effort, but we still have 19 games to go and it’s not always easy. You also understand how difficult it is to be there from the start until the end.
“It’s not easy because when the opponent plays and they win, you feel that you need to win. If they drop points you feel that you need to win because you hope to continue. Hopefully we can be there for the rest of the season.”
While Maresca has previous experience of lifting a title, Jamie Vardy is one of only two remaining players from their famous 2015/16 triumph under Claudio Ranieri. Vardy turned 37 earlier this month but remains an integral part of Maresca’s plans, with six league goals so far this season.
