Diogo Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka? That was not a sensible question throughout the first months of Manchester United's season.
Dalot was the first-choice right-back and he was arguably the finest player in his position in the Premier League. He enjoyed an excellent start to the new campaign, whilst Wan-Bissaka was forgotten and sidelined with a back injury.
The latter had also been informed last summer that he was free to leave the club and that seemed the best option for his career. There was a feeling Wan-Bissaka, who was signed for £50million in 2019, would benefit from a clean slate elsewhere.
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Yet in the space of around six months, Dalot's performances have become inconsistent and Wan-Bissaka has been subject to a renaissance, which has seen the pair swap positions in the pecking order - that was once unforeseeable - at right-back.
Ten Hag was asked about their battle in early March and said: “I think it's really close, the competition between them. Maybe Aaron gives you a little bit more defending and Diogo gives you maybe a little more offence.
"But I have to say I think they both have made progress in both areas, so it's really close. You look at the opponent, you look at the load on the players and you have to manage that when you have two almost-equal players.
"Then the form they are in is also an issue and then, of course, how is the team doing in the moment? Then you make your decision.”
Ten Hag described the pair as 'almost-equal players', but his recent team selections suggest he's leaning toward Wan-Bissaka, as the 25-year-old has started eight of the last nine matches, only being moved to the bench against Aston Villa.
That relocation to the bench also seemed more for a rest than a demotion. United played Brighton away from home just three days after the game and Wan-Bissaka was always going to be needed against the dangerous Kaoru Mitoma.
Wan-Bissaka expertly dealt with Mitoma in both recent matches against Brighton and the winger said he was a 'strong opponent' after the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. He also said it was a 'complete defeat' in his personal battle against him.
It's worth noting Dalot has played at left-back in five of the last nine matches, but Malacia has been available and he could have started in that role. That would have seen Dalot start at right-back but Wan-Bissaka has been preferred there instead.
Ten Hag has preferred to play Dalot and Wan-Bissaka, than Malacia and Dalot. That is more a slight on the displays of Malacia, but if the Portuguese international had sustained his early season form, he might be guaranteed to start at right-back.
Dalot has made the dilemma easier for Ten Hag. Although he's a much-improved player, there are still doubts about his defensive capabilities and that explains why the door has opened for Wan-Bissaka again, despite it being shut in August.
The good news for Dalot is that Wan-Bissaka might be ahead in the pecking order now, but history has shown he's not certain to retain that role. It will also be interesting to see what happens in the summer transfer window.
Some have suggested United need a right-back who has enough quality to make that position their own. Luke Shaw has left-back nailed down on the other side, but Dalot and Wan-Bissaka have been unable to secure consistent starts.
There are other positions that need more urgent attention and the battle between both could happen again next season.
It's very possible Ten Hag could feel the competition for a start at right-back is conducive to raising the pair's standards.
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