Avram Grant is preparing to take the biggest gamble of his Chelsea career by omitting John Terry and Frank Lampard from his side for tonight’s Champions League first knockout round, first-leg tie with Olympiacos.

In an indication of the first-team coach’s no-nonsense approach, Chelsea’s captain and vice-captain were unsure of their places on Sunday’s stormy flight from London and were finally told that they were to be left out at training yesterday. Nicolas Anelka, the £15 million signing from Bolton Wanderers last month, will also be overlooked.

It is understood that Grant told the squad that he wanted to rotate the team with a view to Sunday’s Carling Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur and that this evening’s team should not be regarded as his first XI. Terry and Lampard played in Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round victory over Huddersfield Town and can expect to return at Wembley Stadium this weekend.

For all Grant’s explanation, his decision is still a surprise because tonight’s game is the first time that he has been able to choose from a virtually full-strength squad, with only Andriy Shevchenko left behind in London as he recovers from a back injury.

It is also something of a gamble because Terry and Lampard have been Chelsea’s most consistent performers for several seasons, while Olympiacos are not to be underestimated, having qualified from a group that included Real Madrid, Lazio and Werder Bremen.

Of his selection policy, Grant said: “Football is about a squad and the players who have come back from injury or African Nations Cup make it better for us. I make my decisions based on what will be best for Chelsea in this game and the next and next. I have no problem leaving any star name out.”

While accepting Grant’s decision, it was also a shock to the players, especially considering the manner in which they were treated by his predecessor, José Mourinho, who made a point of building his team around his England stars.

Terry has played in every Champions League match for which he was available since breaking into the team under Claudio Ranieri five years ago, while Lampard has not been left out since being omitted from a group-stage match against Sparta Prague in September 2003.

Grant, however, has made a clear signal that he intends to do things differently and will not follow Mourinho’s example of having so-called “Untouchables”. Terry’s place will be taken by Alex, the Brazil defender partnering Ricardo Carvalho in the centre of defence, with Michael Essien accompanying Michael Ballack in front of Claude Makelele in midfield.