Chelsea will start with Nicolas Anelka on his own up front with Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko still injured and Salomon Kalou at the Olympics.
Portugal internationals Jose Bosingwa and Deco are set to make their debuts.
Portsmouth include new signings Peter Crouch, Younes Kaboul and Jerome Thomas but Pedro Mendes has joined Rangers.
Sean Davis (hip), Glen Little, Noe Pamarot (both thigh), David Nugent and Linvoy Primus (both groin) are all out, but Kanu may be fit to be on the bench.
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Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Bosingwa, Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, Alex, A Cole, J Cole, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Deco, Mikel, Anelka, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Pizarro, di Santo.
Portsmouth (from): James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Diop, Diarra, Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch, Lauren, Cranie, Kaboul, Thomas, Traore, Kanu, Mvuemba, Wilson, Ashdown.
Chelsea take to the field for the first time for competitive action since the Champions League final defeat to Manchester United, and begin yet another new era - this time under Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The Londoners defend a 21-match unbeaten Premier League record.
Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth, who ended their season by winning the FA Cup, are aiming to end Chelsea's phenomenal undefeated home sequence, which now stands at 82 matches.
Pompey are battling to avoid a fifth successive league loss.
Portsmouth have dropped more points (29) lost more games (nine) and conceded more goals (20) to Chelsea than to any other club since gaining promotion to the Premier League in 2003.
It's now 53 years since Pompey last left Stamford Bridge with maximum points, courtesy of a 1-5 top flight triumph on 3 September 1955.
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