There may only be three points up for grabs at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but Marco Silva knows that the SW6 derby runs deeper than that.
“It's going to be a big one,” he said. “It’s a special derby. It is a special moment for our fans, and when you feel it, it gives the players that extra motivation as well.
“In every single Premier League game, you can make a statement, and all that stuff. This is another game, there are three points there, nothing more, but you know there’s always something special behind.
“The last few seasons, since we joined the Club, we changed completely the record against them. We have been really competitive, to match them and to balance really well on the pitch.”
Chelsea have parted with a reported £250m this summer on new signings, while Enzo Maresca also all but confirmed the imminent arrival of Alejandro Garnacho in his pre-match press conference.
Silva is well aware of the calibre of opposition Chelsea represent now, but is aiming to ensure the scales are more even once that first whistle goes this Saturday lunchtime.
“Off the pitch, what they have been doing last three, four seasons, spending not millions, billions probably, and it’s again this summer,” Silva stated.
“The team had a very good last season and won the Conference League, they were the favourites, but won the [Club] World Cup as well, and were able to strengthen the squad.
“Even their attacking line – Estevao, [Liam] Delap, Joao Pedro, and probably more is coming, probably Garnacho is coming too. I think it speaks about themselves and the individual quality they have.
“Off the pitch is a completely different world. They are in a different world.
“They are capable to do things off the pitch which we are not – our aim is to balance everything inside the pitch, to balance everything during the 95 or 100 minutes that we are going to play against them, like we did last season both games.
“Two great games, really balanced, emotional games, late goals for us at Stamford Bridge, [and] after for them at Craven Cottage.
“But the way we faced them, the way we matched them, is what we are going to try to do again, to balance the things on a matchday that are completely different off the pitch.”