It's the second of seven pre-season matches this afternoon and another League One opponent await as Portsmouth make the trip up north to take on the Robins.
Following the 2-0 victory against Cheltenham last week with George Tanner and Tommy Conway getting themselves on the scoresheet, first-team coach Jason Euell was keen to emphasise the performance was all about the individuals as they adapt to new roles and tactics.
City are set to progressively increase their match intensity to help prevent injuries in their preparation to be at optimum fitness to take on Hull City in their season opener on July 30 - just under three weeks away. On Saturday, the Robins will head south to take on Plymouth before a double-header of matches in seven days' time against Forest Green Rovers and Exeter City.
Pompey is another golden opportunity for players to get match minutes under their belt, with Nigel Pearson still integrating his new signings into the set-up. After last week's victory, new boy Mark Sykes revealed how he was being retrained into the No10 position after playing out on the right for Oxford last season.
From the goalkeeper situation to the formation, we take a look at a number of talking points ahead of the 2pm kick-off...
Max O'Leary's situation
Stefan Bajic's arrival has put Max O'Leary's position in the side in doubt with the young Frenchman set to challenge Dan Bentley for the No1 shirt.
Bristol Live reported last week how MK Dons have enquired about the loam availability of the 25-year-old but that deal appears over with the League One side completing the temporary switch for Chelsea's keeper Jamie Cumming over the weekend.
Having failed to take advantage of the No1 shirt in the absence of Bentley last season, O'Leary's long-term future at the club is also looking increasingly unsteady as he enters the final year of his contract although City hold a year's option.
He started in the Under-23 victory over Paulton Rovers last Tuesday and was named on the substitute bench against Cheltenham although failed to earn any minutes despite Pearson making 10 changes after an hour of action. It's also worth noting Bajic was forced to miss out as he recovers from a minor wrist injury.
This afternoon's clash could be telling where O'Leary's position is with the team as it stands. For example, if he fails to get on the pitch for the second consecutive match, it gives a much clearer indication that he won't be considered among the first-team squad going forward.
If Bajic recovers and makes the bench then once again over O'Leary, it will also look a long way back for the Republic of Ireland international who is not short of interest from League One clubs on a loan deal. Either way, the player is at that stage of his career where he needs regular first-team football and if he's struggling to feature in pre-season matches then a move away would certainly suit both parties.
A start for Tommy Conway?
With Antoine Semenyo out injured, there's a spot up for grabs in the attack. Nahki Wells seems to be ahead in the pecking order after starting alongside Chris Martin last week with Sykes playing behind the duo.
Although failing to score, Wells looked sharp with his movement and eager to get himself on the ball. He also looked frustrated on a handful of occasions to see his chances go begging, obviously eager to hit the ground running in pre-season.
Wells doesn't need to prove a point, his CV is enough evidence to suggest he can get himself among the goals if he hits his momentum. But hitting the back of the net hasn't come frequently for the 32-year-old in the last 12 months.
He scored three goals last season which is also largely down to the form of City's strikers that limited him to just seven league starts and 25 substitute appearances. Conway continues to go about his business in the right way and sent out two statements last week to suggest he deserves an opportunity from the start.
During the U23 victory over Paulton Rovers, Conway scored twice before playing the final 30 minutes against Cheltenham where he would get himself on the scoresheet, finishing off Cam Pring's low cross towards the end of the contest.
Academy director Brian Tinnion has hinted the young forward could head out on loan for a period during the season alongside fellow strike partner Sam Bell, but with Semenyo's injury and Wells' future uncertain with reports linking him with Preston, Conway may take this opportunity to prove he can play more of a role in the first-team next season.
An experiment in formation?
Pearson's decision to play with the favoured 3-5-2 against Cheltenham was far from surprising given his comments in pre-season about finding the right formula for his attack to flourish.
It also gave his new signings the opportunity to adapt in the system and see the likes of Kane Wilson and Kal Naismith in their natural positions - both of whom offered really positive performances. Sykes was also tasked with playing in a central role behind the front two with the club keen to retrain him an unfamiliar position.
Even with the flurry of outfield changes after 60 minutes, the system remained the same with Ryley Towler, Duncan Idehen and Zak Vyner forming part of the back three with Tanner and Pring taking the wing-back spots.
Pearson is expected to once again start with three at the back, but pre-season is also the perfect opportunity to experiment should the manager want to take a look at his side with a back four in a 4-2-3-1 formation midway through the second half. That will give Sykes the opportunity to play out on the touchline with one of the other forwards switching to the other flank.
The manager could also look at a 4-3-3 with Andi Weimann and Sykes handed roles on either side of the central forward but play higher up the field. Pearson will have a plan B in mind should his side be chasing a goal during the Championship campaign which will include taking off a defender in favour of a more attacking influence on the pitch.
Then again, City could quite easily continue with the original formation throughout the duration of the game but it remains unlikely that trend will continue over the course of pre-season.
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