Chelsea youngsters Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Dominic Solanke will have up to three matches to convince Jose Mourinho they are ready for the Blues first team squad.
The two teenagers are among a group of four youth team players to jet off on Chelsea's USA tour – which will include matches against New York Red Bulls, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
Loftus-Cheek impressed during a limited breakthrough to the Blues' first team, once the title was already won last season.
Solanke, meanwhile, has played only 17 minutes of first team football – becoming the club's youngest ever Champions League player towards the end of a 6-0 romp over Slovenians Maribor.
Also included in the touring squad are Ola Aina and Jake Clarke-Salter – continuing a tradition where the most promising or hardest working youth players are rewarded with inclusion in the annual pre-season trip.
Loftus-Cheek is by far the nearest to making a true breakthrough, with evidence of the seriousness with which Mourinho is treating his development coming in the boss' criticism of the midfielder's post-season shortcomings in a game against Sydney.
Chelsea's pre-season tour squad in pictures:
Solanke, meanwhile, will get the chance to prove he can replace Loic Remy as Chelsea's third forward – with the Frenchman being linked with a possible move to Crystal Palace.
Mourinho may yet go into the transfer market to add to his forward line of Diego Costa and new on-loan signing Radamel Falcao.
Others with a point to prove within the touring party include: John Mikel Obi, repeatedly linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge; Victor Moses, Nathaniel Chalobah and Bertrand Traore – all three of whom spent last season out on-loan.
Traore was last month finally awarded a UK work permit, following a long battle between the club and the authorities.
Those among the Blues squad who featured in the Copa America – Filipe Luis, Willian, Juan Cuadrado and Falcao – will join their team mates after a short extended period of leave.
Watch as Chelsea unveil their 2015-16 home strip and the If It's Not Blue, It Will Be campaign:
