With the dreaded international break out of the way, the Premier League is back this weekend - and it kicks off with a bang.

Indeed, Saturday's 12.30pm kick-off sees the Premier League's last two champions square off against each other, with Leicester City making the trip to Chelsea's Stamford Bridge.

Most are expecting a Chelsea win, especially at home. After all, the Foxes have reverted back to their usual lower-mid-table selves after a legendary 2015/16 season, whilst Antonio Conte's Blues revolution, albeit somewhat unassuming thus far, appears be gaining momentum after a 2-0 win over Hull City.

But Claudio Ranieri's boys proved last season that they're capable of beating any Premier League side on their day and the former Blues gaffer's presence in the opposing dugout creates another interesting subplot.

It's a match that could well come down to which side dominates the key individual battles. Here are FIVE FootballFanCast reckon will have the biggest impact on Saturday's outcome.

JAMIE VARDY VS JOHN TERRY

John Terry's expected to return this weekend after suffering an injury against Swansea City in September and a Blues backline that's conceded seven goals from four games in his absence desperately requires the Chelsea skipper's leadership and organisation at its beating heart.

That being said, if there's one striker in the Premier League born to take advantage of his ageing legs, it's Jamie Vardy - whose sheer ruthlessness on the counter-attack was the primary source of many a Leicester goal last season.

Of course, Terry's made a career out of avoiding such situations and he's expected to be protected by two centre-backs on Saturday as part of Chelsea's three-man backline. But the 35-year-old may be a little rusty following his injury and it seems inevitable Vardy will get at least one chance to capitalise.

N'GOLO KANTE VS DANNY DRINKWATER

Echoing the story of the fox and the hound; N'Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater were once the partnership that dominated Premier League midfields, but on Saturday they'll be direct enemies in opposing engine rooms.

Drinkwater has maintained his responsibility as Leicester's instigator, launching counter-attacks from deep positions with his long-range passing, whilst Kante has been forced to accept a lesser, somewhat more passive role since trading the King Power Stadium for Stamford Bridge.

Nonetheless, when players know each other's games as well as these two, it's nearly always a tight-knit, cagey affair. Kante's primary duty will be to sit deep and protect the back four, but he'll hope Antonio Conte loosens the leash on Saturday so he can close down his former team-mate as much as possible.

RIYAD MAHREZ VS MARCOS ALONSO

Chelsea's utilisation of wing-backs did the trick against Hull City before the international break but it's yet to be tested by a winger as talented as Riyad Mahrez. Indeed, the Algeria international's yet to live up to the heights of last season, scoring just once in the Premier League thus far, but his natural ability remains undoubted and Chelsea can't afford him any space in the final third.

That suggests a tricky afternoon for left wing-back Marcos Alonso, who'll have to balance out his defensive and offensive duties perfectly. But the same can be said for Mahrez; the Spaniard likes to push forward and contribute on the overlap, so with Eden Hazard in tandem, he'll have to do his fair share of tracking back.

EDEN HAZARD VS DANNY SIMPSON

A similar skirmish along the same flank, albeit with Eden Hazard operating more as an inside forward. Indeed, that tucked-in role could create a few problems for Danny Simpson, especially with the aforementioned Marcos Alonso looking to provide width on the overlap.

That being said, the job of stopping Hazard has never been exclusive to just one man. At his best, it still takes three or four defenders to completely suffocate the Belgium international and even though he's yet to hit top gear this season, Leicester can't take the risk of hoping he'll have an off day against them.

That makes Mahrez's role all the more important, as well as defensive midfielder Daniel Arartey, who'll inevitably be dragged across to add extra defensive support.

DIEGO COSTA VS ROBERT HUTH

A battle of two absolute warriors who almost belong to prior eras. Indeed, Diego Costa is an old-fashioned No.9 whilst Robert Huth's brand of defending is about as old-school as it gets.

Costa's been in fantastic form this season, bagging six goals in seven Premier League appearances and seemingly discovering the temperament under Antonio Conte which evaded him during his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge.

But Huth will certainly put that to the test; he's a master of the dark arts of defending - the shirt pulls, the nudges in the back, the flailing elbows - and has the physicality to match Costa's. More than a question of quality, this contest will come down to who can keep their cool in the heat of battle.