Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash will consolidate the winger's return to the starting XI. Mahrez had missed two games due to being unhappy with the 'Foxes' after his potential transfer to Manchester City fell through, leading him to stay away from training.
However, the 27-year-old is back to good form having scored two goals from two appearances, and assisting a Jamie Vardy goal against West Bromwich Albion. Mahrez is now hoping to make a major impact against Chelsea.
Despite the City transfer not materialising, Pep Guardiola is reported to still be monitoring the Algerian's performance for a potential summer transfer window move. Leicester coach Puel thinks this will fire the player up to perform at his best level.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the manager argued: ''Yes I think [my players] have a good motivation about this game and about the end of the season, of course".
"It was complicated in the first part of the season to believe we have the opportunity to play for something at the end. Riyad and all the players, the chairman also, deserve something.
"But the most important thing is to keep the focus for the next game because it is a decisive game. We will see at the end if we can continue this journey or not.''
The Leicester boss also said that their strategy against Chelsea would be ''to be clear and clever about our football,’' adding: ''[we] must keep a good emotion and balance between our desire and the quality we need to put on the pitch.''
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is expected to part ways with the club after a disappointing season but Puel insists that managers thrive on the pressure.
"[Conte] likes the pressure. I think for a manager we stay young men with all this competition. There is always competition — competition to win this place, competition to win a game, competition to win something. Managers live with this pressure. It is not a problem for Antonio or me or other managers.’'