"Robbo had a game on the Saturday, but we haven't got a match for another week," said McCarthy.
"Bryan had his own reasons, but I'll be playing as strong a team as I can.
"Somebody will score against Chelsea, somebody will beat them and somebody will get something at Stamford Bridge. They won't win every game this season.
"People will say, 'Why not us?' If you have the belief and desire you never know.
"No-one gave Northern Ireland an earthly against England.
"Jose Mourinho has some of the best players in the world at Chelsea but we are not going to roll over on our bellies, get tickled, and say, 'Isn't it great we're in the Premiership?'"