Nearly a month have passed since Bristol City last took to the field for a competitive fixture and much of the football world has felt on hold during this break for the World Cup in Qatar.
As a result it's allowed narratives to slightly reset and City return to action with the understanding of where they are a little in the balance. The goalless draw against Watford certainly help erode some of the fury that followed the League Cup elimination to Lincoln City.
But there is still an underlying frustration with the fluctuating performances and results, and while optimism usually always abides once football returns before our eyes, City can ill-afford to not turn up against Rotherham United.
The Millers have slid down the table since Paul Warne's departure to Derby County and have just one win in their last seven games under Exeter City manager Matt Taylor, but the break in play has allowed for their own reset and re-assessment of their season.
Here is how we see City lining up in the 12:30pn kick-off at New York Stadium...
Goalkeeper and defence
Max O’Leary signed off the period before the World Cup break with a clean sheet - his second since taking the gloves from Dan Bentley - and the City academy product should keep his place between the posts with the club captain likely to be his deputy.
Stefan Bajic started for the Under-21s in midweek against Crystal Palace so, for now, remains third choice and while he should be with the train and take part in the pre-match drills, he’ll be out of the matchday 18.
In terms of the defence, will stick with what we definitely know and that’s that Zak Vyner will take his place on the right-hand side of the back three having been City’s surprise success story of the season so far.
The key for Vyner is to build on his consistency over the first three months of the campaign and continue to go almost unnoticed, sticking to the basics and doing them well. If he maintains that, then the prospect of him remaining a Robin beyond next summer - when his current deal expires - looks increasingly likely as the club hold a 12-month option.
It’s the central figure of the trio that appears the most interesting with Andy King having performed well there in the draw with Watford and it would, in a way, be harsh to drop the 33-year-old, even if it’s not his specialist position.
A lot of whether Pearson does or not is dependent on the fitness of Kal Naismith who has trained for the last two weeks after his calf injury sustained at the beginning of October. If the Scot is deemed ready to start a game, he’ll re-assume his position in the middle. If he’s not, then it could well be King again or, alternatively, Vyner with George Tanner on the right, as the defender is available following suspension.
Over on the left and Cam Pring was in possession of the shirt prior to the pause in the schedule, keeping Rob Atkinson out of the team for four straight league fixtures. Under Pearson’s usual rules around selection - e.g if you have the shirt and do enough to keep it, then you will - dictates that Pring will once again line up on that side.
But there may have been a reconsideration of the make-up of his defence over the break and with Naismith returning, perhaps also a feeling that Atkinson should follow the 30-year-old and form what was the established trio prior to the Scot’s injury.
It’s a tough one to call, and is also based on how each man has performed in training, possibly even the behind-closed-doors friendly against Southampton, in which only a handful of people bore witness too. In that sense, it’s something of a crapshoot but we’ll stick to the facts that we know and that is Pring has done more than enough to earn his place.
Midfield
It was a controversial move to name Andi Weimann at right wing-back against Watford but the success of it could cause Pearson to stick with the tactic which also allows him to keep his best three central midfielders on the pitch together.
If Mark Sykes starts on the right, then Weimann plays as the No10 and one of Joe Williams, Matty James or Alex Scott have to drop out. Williams is the most likely candidate but he was excellent against the Hornets and it will be a harsh call for him not to be on the teamsheet when it’s released at 11:30. James and Scott, when fit, are near-automatic picks so it will be equally surprising if they’re not part of that.
Han-Noah Massengo, King and Dylan Kadji are other options in the middle of the park but it would take an injury to one or more of the likely starters before they become a consideration.
Weimann as a wing-back does take away his presence in the middle but Scott can be the more advanced of the midfield while the Austrian - as he showed against Watford - still provides plenty of penetration down that flank and is more consistent with his final product than Sykes.
We’ve not mentioned the knee injury the Austrian sustained while on international duty and it wasn’t spoken about in pre-match press but the expectation is he’ll be good to go. That said, if there is any doubt over his health, then Sykes steps in.
Jay Dasilva’s form has dipped but with Pearson not quite trusting Pring’s attacking ability, the former Chelsea player should keep his spot on the left.
Attack
It’s fairly straightforward in this part of the pitch. Antoine Semenyo is back with the camp after his World Cup exploits but a combination of travel, time spent away from the squad and the fact that he hasn’t been playing that well, means he’ll almost certainly be on the bench.
Tommy Conway and Nahki Wells have proven to be City’s best attacking partnership all season and will continue as a duo at New York Stadium with Chris Martin and Sam Bell also in reserve.
Bristol City (3-5-2): Max O’Leary; Zak Vyner, Kal Naismith, Cam Pring; Andi Weimann, Alex Scott, Matty James, Joe Williams, Jay Dasilva; Tommy Conway, Nahki Wells
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