Ethan Horvath is likely to make only his second league appearance for Nottingham Forest on Friday night - and it will be a case of going in at the deep end.
It is a crunch clash for the Reds as they make the trip to face second-placed Bournemouth, with the opportunity to really put down a marker.
They are without first-choice goalkeeper Brice Samba, however, after he was sent off in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Stoke City for swatting Phil Jagielka around the back of the head.
That leaves summer signing Horvath as “next man up”, in the words of boss Steve Cooper.
The American has been back-up stopper to Samba, putting him ahead of academy graduate Jordan Smith - who is expected to be on the bench - in the pecking order.
Horvath hasn’t played since enduring a tough evening against Middlesbrough back in September, when the hosts lost 2-0 in what proved to be Chris Hughton’s final match in charge.
He has a big opportunity to show what he can do against the Cherries, though.
And he will have a strong back line in front of him to offer protection.
Cooper could switch to a four-man defence if he wants to tighten things up even more, but he is keen to approach every game looking to win, and Forest have generally looked better with a three.
Steve Cook will be eager to put in a good performance against the club he ended a decade-long association with to make the move to the City Ground last month. Alongside Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna, he will be out to register a clean-sheet on familiar territory.
Cooper’s biggest selection dilemma comes further up the pitch.
Midfielder Ryan Yates was left out of the XI at the weekend but was sorely missed in a scrappy game. And he came off the bench to net a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time.
However, recalling him to the starting line-up means deciding who to leave out.
The Reds head coach could give one of Jack Colback or James Garner a rest, or play the latter in an advanced role and name Philip Zinckernagel among the substitutes.
Up front, Keinan Davis has made a significant impact since joining on loan from Aston Villa. Sam Surridge will hope to push him for a place in the team, though, as, like Cook, Bournemouth are one of his former clubs.
Having looked leggy at the weekend, Forest should go into the clash refreshed after being without a midweek game.
They are seventh in the table, two points below the play-off spots and 11 adrift of their opponents.
Predicted Forest XI: Horvath; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; Spence, Yates, Colback, Lowe; Garner; Johnson, Davis.
