Leeds United's long-awaited home fixture against Manchester United rolls around this weekend with the Whites currently experiencing some disconcerting form.
While their opponents' midweek triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion helped to lift some of the malaise beginning to set in at Old Trafford, Ralf Rangnick's men are six unbeaten in the Premier League.
On the other hand, Leeds come into this game fresh off the back of a 3-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.
The Whites were beaten handsomely by Frank Lampard's new outfit, in uncharacteristically tepid fashion following a rousing 3-3 draw with Aston Villa earlier that week.
Nevertheless, Sunday's meeting provides a different challenge, as derby matches often do.
Last season, the Whites held out for a 0-0 draw against their arch-rivals, although that game was played behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions.
This time, Elland Road will be packed to the rafters with supporters eager to see their side give a good account of themselves against an all-too-familiar foe.
Marcelo Bielsa could be without a natural left-back, though, after injuries to Stuart Dallas and Leo Hjelde forced the pair to withdraw against Everton last week.
The two issues book-ended a troubling performance, with Dallas substituted in the opening ten minutes, and Hjelde taken off with just seconds remaining in stoppage time at the end of the second half.
It is hoped Junior Firpo could be back this weekend, although with no competitive action for a month, there are doubts he will be thrust straight back into the action versus the likes of Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford.
Firpo has been absent with a hamstring problem picked up in the 3-2 win over West Ham United during January.
Bielsa is expected to provide an update on Dallas, Hjelde and the Spanish full-back later this week in his pre-match press conference.
However, the Argentine may be able to circumvent Firpo's fitness issues by fielding him in Friday afternoon's U23 fixture.
Leeds' development squad visit Brighton in two days' time for their latest Premier League 2 bout.
Last year, it was customary to see injured first-team players initially returning via the U23 side, however due to squad issues this season, that has been somewhat curtailed.
That said, Firpo was given 30 minutes last October as the young Whites were beaten by Arsenal's U23s at Elland Road.
This followed a similar period on the sidelines and suggests Bielsa is still open to the prospect of giving senior players minutes with the youth squad if fixtures align appropriately.
