West Brom manager Tony Pulis believes any talk of a Chelsea crisis is a joke and fears a Jose Mourinho backlash.
Pulis is wary of facing the reigning Barclays Premier League champions despite their slow start to the season.
Chelsea travel to The Hawthorns on Sunday looking for their first win of the campaign after being humbled 3-0 at title rivals Manchester City last week.
The Baggies beat Chelsea 3-0 at home at the end of last season but, even after their stuttering opening, Pulis dismissed suggestions the champions are in trouble.
"There's a crisis at every Premier League team," he said.
"It is a joke what you just said. A crisis after two games? This isn't a comedy show.
"They could have Pedro, (Diego) Costa and (Eden) Hazard playing, that's not bad is it?
"They're the champions and they deserved to win it. They were so far ahead of everyone.
"We know it's going to be tough. To have Man City and Chelsea as our first two home games is very difficult, plus we have the window to deal with."
Pulis, whose move for Tottenham's Federico Fazio is on hold after talks broke down over personal terms on Friday, could hand record signing Salomon Rondon his home debut.
Pedro could also make his Chelsea bow after joining from Barcelona this week while boss Mourinho must make a call over whether to start John Terry.
The skipper was substituted at half-time in last week's defeat at Manchester City but Pulis insisted Mourinho must be respected and knows Chelsea are hurting.
"There's no bigger manager in the world than Jose. I find him a different person away from the cameras, I like him. I admire what he's achieved, it's remarkable," he said.
"He deserves respect, there are always little chinks but whenever I've dealt with him he's been first-class.
"There's never a good time to play Chelsea.
"When we beat them last season they had a player sent off, people forget that.
"That was a good time to play them, before the game I wasn't so sure. We'll be facing a wounded animal."
Source: PA
