The FA Cup third round has often provided Chelsea head coaches with an opportunity to heavily rotate the starting XI. Graham Potter has no such luxury. It's Manchester City away on Sunday afternoon and an injury-impacted squad from which to select his side.
Potter knows the harsh reality of coaching Chelsea: every competition is one the club is expected to win. Excuses – or even well-reasoned arguments – largely fall on deaf ears. So there will be pressure on the Blues to come away from the Etihad Stadium with a result.
Changes will be necessary, however. Both Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic limped out of Thursday's Premier League clash against Pep Guardiola's side with hamstring and knee injuries respectively. Mason Mount also faces a race against time to be fit having picked up a knock in training.
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Several other players are ruled out too. Reece James (knee), Welsey Fofana (knee) and Ben Chilwell (hamstring) are absent. N'Golo Kante (hamstring) too. And Armando Broja is sidelined for the remainder of the campaign after suffering an ACL injury during the World Cup break.
One small boost is Ruben Loftus-Cheek has spent the past week in training after overcoming a thigh issue sustained in the defeat to Newcastle United in November. While the midfielder will not be free to start, there is a chance he can make his return to the matchday squad.
With so many absentees and less than 72 hours between Thursday's clash and Sunday's meeting in Manchester, Potter will have to make changes. And that will provide players on the periphery of the squad with an opportunity to impress. Here, our Chelsea reporters Adam Newson, Scott Trotter and Bobby Vincent outline who they would start at the Etihad.
Adam Newson
No matter how depleted the Chelsea squad is, Potter has to be bold at the Etihad. After all, there is no point exiting the FA Cup without a whimper. So I feel he should tweak the 4-2-2-2 shape utilised at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening and go with a more orthodox 4-3-3.
With Edouard Mendy still struggling with a shoulder injury, I'd continue with Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard drew the ire of supporters for a mistake in the build-up to City’s win in the Premier League meeting between the two sides but can put that right on Sunday.
Cesar Azpilicueta is the senior option at right-back and I would start the Chelsea skipper. However, I would ensure Dion Rankine is on the bench and look to use the young full-back no matter the game state. In the middle of defence, Trevoh Chalobah must start. That the academy graduate hasn't featured in the starting XI since the World Cup resumed is strange.
Kalidou Koulibaly would be my choice as the left centre-back with Thiago Silva stepping out. There is no point in taking any risks with the 38-year-old given Chelsea's current injury predicament. At left-back, the impressive Lewis Hall deserves an outing ahead of Marc Cucurella.
Jorginho didn't feature in midweek and so will be fresh. I'd also continue with Denis Zakaria and complete the midfield with Conor Gallagher, who would be given license to break forward into the penalty box, something which he has rarely done in a Chelsea shirt.
On the left of the attack, I'd start Omari Hutchinson. The youngster made his senior debut on Thursday and played surprisingly cautiously. An outing from the start may provide a greater opportunity for the 19-year-old to express himself. On the opposite flank, I'd go with Carney Chukwuemeka.
With no Broja, it is a toss-up between sticking with Kai Havertz or introducing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Given the ineffectiveness of the latter in recent matches and his response to bring brought off on Thursday, I would continue with Havertz once more.
Adam's XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Koulibaly, Hall; Jorginho, Zakaria, Gallagher; Hutchinson, Havertz, Chukwuemeka
Scott Trotter
There's a sense of déjà vu as Chelsea take on Manchester City for the second time in four days, but also for the second time in a cup competition this season. The first outing in the Carabao Cup saw Lewis Hall put in a strong performance, as the likes of Denis Zakaria, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech were brought into the side.
Given Chelsea are currently without 10 first-team players, rotation where possible will be wise and it may offer a good opportunity to provide more playing time for young talents.
Trevoh Chalobah would seem certain to come into the backline given Kalidou Koulibaly and Thiago Silva have played all three games since the resumption of the campaign, though if Graham Potter harbours hope of progression, Silva may need to find his way through yet another 90 minutes.
Hall and Chukwuemeka's influence on Thursday showed they are worthy of a start, even if it means reverting to three central defenders. That may open up the possibility of Dion Rankine being handed an opportunity at wing-back.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should lead the line. The former Arsenal striker had a difficult night against Man City, being replaced after fewer than 70 minutes, but looked like he could provide a threat to Pep Guardiola's defence should Chelsea target him in the right way.
It would be good to see him flanked by Chukwuemeka and Hutchinson, with the duo given plenty of freedom to show their movement and talent. And given the current injury predicament there could be room for Charlie Webster or Cesare Casadei on the bench.
Scott's XI: Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Rankine, Jorginho, Zakaria, Hall; Hutchinson, Aubameyang, Chukwuemeka.
Bobby Vincent
After what we saw Thursday evening, I think Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson and Carney Chukwuemeka all deserve a chance to start. Hall and Chukwuemeka were particularly brilliant, while Hutchinson, rather understandably, played within himself a little after coming off the bench.
However, all three of those young lads should be given an opportunity again at the Etihad to show what they can do – and all three can play a crucial role for Chelsea between now and the end of the season.
Trevoh Chalobah has to play. He's done virtually nothing wrong this season in a Chelsea shirt and with Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly both needing a rest, Sunday is the perfect chance to bring Chalobah back into the side.
I'd also like to see Conor Gallagher be given a start in midfield. The energy he brought to the game when called upon on Thursday was refreshing to see. That effort alone shows how much it means to him and a start on Sunday could be really beneficial for him.
Bobby's XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Koulibaly, Hall; Jorginho, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka; Hutchinson, Ziyech, Havertz.
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