Willian replaced Eden Hazard in the solitary change as Chelsea looked to confirm their place in the Champions League knockout stages at Basel.
Victory at St Jakob-Park would secure top spot in Group E and a point would be enough to confirm the Blues' place in the last 16 - something which eluded the 2012 European Cup winners last season.
Jose Mourinho stuck with 10 of the players who began Saturday's 3-0 win at West Ham, with Hazard on the substitutes' bench alongside a fit-again Fernando Torres, as Chelsea sought a fourth successive win in the Champions League, following the opening home loss to Basle.
Basle: Sommer, Voser, Schar, Ivanov, Xhaka, Salah, El-Nenny, Serey, Frei, Stocker, Streller. Subs: Vailati, Philipp Degen, Ajeti, David Degen, Delgado, Sauro, Sio.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Willian, Oscar, Eto'o. Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Torres, Mata, Schurrle, De Bruyne, Hazard.