Baggies legend Cyrille Regis says West Brom's players should embrace the prospect of facing Chelsea for their Premiership kickoff.

Albion kick off their campaign against champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and will have also travelled to Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United by the middle of October.

It could hardly make for a tougher return to the big-time, but Regis feels Baggies fans will be relishing the prospect of seeing their team take on some of the world's best players.

"That is why we are in there," he said.

"It would be great to have what we might call lesser teams, but are there any lesser teams in the Premier League anyway?

"We want the Chelseas, we want the Manchester Uniteds, to test ourselves against them.

"They are fantastic sides with great players, and what our players and fans want is for these teams to come and show their worth, and for Albion to pit themselves against them."