Thiago Silva has warned Chelsea that Paris Saint-Germain are significantly better than when they knocked the Blues out of the Champions League a year ago.
PSG face the Blues for a third consecutive year, with the teams meeting in the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition on Tuesday.
The previous two ties have been settled on away goals, with Chelsea edging through to the semifinals in April 2014 before 10-man PSG beat them in the round-of-16 at Stamford Bridge last March, with Thiago Silva scoring the decisive goal.
The Brazilian believes familiarity has led to a genuine rivalry between the clubs and, although he said in December that the tie would be "even more difficult than last season," he believes his side have improved substantially.
"It's a magnificent draw because I think we already know this team, Chelsea, quite well," the PSG captain told the Daily Telegraph.
"They have got a lot of Brazilian players, it's not far from Paris and there is already the rivalry.
"It's the third time we have faced them in three years. We lost the first time we played Chelsea and then we won the second time and this is the third, so I think you can talk about it being a rivalry between us. I think we are a lot better now."
He also rejected rumours that he might be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge, saying: "No, no. It has come from Brazil, but it is not true. I want to finish my career here."
PSG remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 after 26 matches and lead the league by 24 points. In contrast, Premier League champions Chelsea languish in 12th place.
Thiago Silva believes the summer addition of the "magical" Angel Di Maria from Manchester United has increased PSG's domestic dominance and brought them closer to fulfilling their Champions League ambitions.
"I think for a team that has a dream to fulfil, which is the Champions League, there is a need to have a player like Di Maria," he said of the Argentine, who has notched 13 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for the club this season.
"He can make the difference, also. Even if we already have Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], [Edinson] Cavani, Lucas [Moura], brilliant players, we need even more great players and Di Maria is that."
He added: "With Di Maria the problem [at United] was that he did not have a lot of opportunities to play in the English league, and it is very different from all the other leagues."
The former AC Milan defender also took the opportunity to defend Chelsea's loan signing of Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato, who has not featured since joining from Corinthians in January, with interim manager Guus Hiddink saying his new striker is nowhere near match fitness.
"I know him very well -- he's my friend," Thiago Silva said. "We played together at AC Milan for three years and Pato has incredible quality. He's been through a lot of difficulties and it is good to see him back in Europe.
"I think he can make the difference for Chelsea, I really do, because he is strong on his right foot, his left foot and he is quick. Very quick. That's why I think Chelsea have made a good choice.
"It's difficult as a player once you have gone back to Brazil to get that second chance in Europe. Sometimes you only get one chance.
"I think European clubs need to see exactly how you play, but I think he had a really good season with Sao Paulo [on loan] and that's why Chelsea have taken him because he's a really great player. Believe me."