City warmed up for their testing trip to Stamford Bridge by claiming a two-goal first-leg lead in their UEFA Cup tie with Aalborg at Eastlands.

Coming just eight days after a similar success over Champions League-chasing Aston Villa, it suggests City are starting to find the consistency they have lacked so far this season.

And it gives Hughes the hope that his side must just be able to record a shock win against Guus Hiddink's men.

"We are in good shape confidence-wise, which is what you need when you are playing Chelsea," he said.

"It is going to be a big test for us but it is one we are looking forward to.

"We met them earlier in the season and maybe we weren't quite up to the task. We are a different team now."

So too are Chelsea, or at least they have a different manager who steered them into the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday with a draw against Juventus.

"Chelsea's form has improved recently," said Hughes, a former player for the Stamford Bridge club.

"It has been a good week for them. But it has been a good week for us too and hopefully we can finish it in the right manner."

City will cement a quarter-final place in Europe for the first time in 30 years provided they hold onto the 2-0 lead given to them by first-half goals from Felipe Caicedo and Shaun Wright-Phillips last night.

Given the one-sided nature of the contest, which should have brought City greater reward, it is hard to imagine Aalborg finding a way back into the tie, a fact acknowledged by coach Magnus Pehrsson.

"It will be very difficult to progress," he said.

"City are dangerous on the counter-attack. You can see why they are favourites for the competition."

Whether Hughes' side can handle such pressure - or win at Chelsea - remains to be seen.

However, it appears the suggestion that a move has been made for Valencia striker David Villa is wide of the mark.

The cash-strapped Spanish club claimed contact with City had been made.

Hughes agreed that aspect of the report was true - but the conversations took place before the last transfer window, when City were put off by Villa's price tag.

"It is old news," said Hughes.

"Before Christmas we asked about certain people and said if the price was too high we would walk away.

"That is what we did and the deal has not been revisited since."