The Blues take on the Italians at Stamford Bridge in the third round of matches knowing victory will edge them closer to the knockout phase of the competition.

Chelsea are a point ahead of Roma in Group A but the contrast in their domestic form could not be greater.

Scolari's entertaining team sit on top of the Barclays Premier League and have scored 27 goals in 11 games in all competitions.

They remain unbeaten so far this season while Roma lie 14th in Serie A, having won only two of their opening seven games and conceding 12 goals in the process.

In Europe, they were surprisingly beaten in Rome by Romanian unknowns CFR Cluj and so, even allowing for Chelsea's injury-hit squad, Scolari's men must be favourites to take another step towards the second stage.

Deco, Petr Cech and Joe Cole could all return to the first-team line-up against the Italians, and Scolari is intent on reproducing the kind of attacking football that has wooed fans nationwide this term.

"I enjoy watching my team but I am more happy when we win," said Scolari. "It's a pleasure, not only for me, but for the players that people like Chelsea football.

"We play beautiful football. But if we need three points in every game, sometimes it is impossible to play beautiful football.

"You will see a beautiful game against Roma because they play like Chelsea."

The inclusion of captain John Terry in their 5-0 win over Middlesbrough at the weekend is still the subject of some scrutiny.

The defender missed England's two World Cup qualifying games against Kazakhstan and Belarus because of a back injury, which managed to clear up in time to play only days later at the Riverside.

But Scolari is adamant there was no skulduggery involved in Terry's inclusion against Boro.

The Brazilian coach also rejected suggestions Terry's problem might ultimately require surgery to alleviate it for good.

"He might have more specific exercises for this problem but I do not think it requires surgery," said Scolari.

"He was not fit enough to play for the national team but after a period of rest he could play.

"I did not speak with the England coach about him. John has played in 14 games for Chelsea and four for the national team. He has missed one or two games this season so far and that is normal.

"I am a big fan of John Terry - he is a very good captain and a good man. He sometimes plays in pain but he is the kind of captain I want.

"All the players in the world want to play for their national team, but some coaches are crazy wondering why a player cannot play after two days with an injury, and then being able to play a few days later for their club."

It is an important week for Scolari as, following the Roma clash, his Chelsea team face Liverpool at home on Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool are the only other unbeaten team in the Premier League but Scolari admits he cannot afford to think too far ahead and has instructed his players to follow suit.

"We are thinking only of Roma tomorrow night," said Scolari. "It is more important for the players to think about this game.

"The next game is on Sunday and if we want to arrive in the final games of all competitions, they must think about each game only. We'll try to do our best for this game. Then, afterwards, we can work on the Liverpool game on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"We need to win tomorrow to qualify. If we win, we'll have 50% or 70% of the qualification achieved. After we play Roma again, then Bordeaux.

"The last game will be at home (against Cluj). The most important game for us is tomorrow as, afterwards, if we draw or win one more game, we are in the second stage."

Chelsea have not conceded a goal for five games but Scolari is not surprised by their mean streak.

"Five games without conceding a goal - it's good because my team is playing very well," he added.

"We're not training specifically not just to concede. We are in good condition.

"Anybody who plays in our team knows the position he needs to be at any time when the opponents have the ball, or they have the ball. It's good for the team. They are doing their best."