Pep Guardiola must be an absolute nightmare to play poker against.
Boasting more than four aces in his Manchester City pack, unpredictability - or rotation in footballing terms - has become a trademark for the revolutionary Spaniard ever since he touched down in the Premier League five and a half years ago.
You might argue that was to his and City's detriment in the Champions League showpiece last season.
However, there are signs Guardiola has learned from going all-in on his biggest night and you might expect a more measured hand should City go all the way to the Gazprom Arena, St Petersburg, in May.
Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea were as surprised as anyone by the omission of a holding midfielder in Porto.
While it was not the only factor in City losing out on the big one, laying out a more sensible set might have ended the club's European hoodoo. Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing.
Certainly by Guardiola's standards, anyway, there has been a rhythmic feel to his team this campaign.
Given the stacked fixture programme - across three competitions - rotation is part and parcel of the modern game. But if you had to throw all your chips on the stack, you would be well-placed to name a City starting XI if they were handed an immediate shot at Champions League redemption.
Instead, the first part of a crucial triple header awaits. But which way will Guardiola go?
There are six days for City to prepare for the first leg of their last-16 showdown with Sporting Lisbon.
Sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League standings, intervening games against Brentford and Norwich - with all due respect - do not represent the biggest challenges that await this season. However, as proven by neighbours Manchester United slipping up last night, there are no 'gimmes' on offer for anyone.
Liverpool are breathing down City's neck, but a 13th win in 14 would put even further pressure on the Reds.
As things stand, Jurgen Klopp and his men already have to win every game and hope their rivals slip up.
Guardiola will not allow that to happen lightly, but while heavy rotation is not the order of the day, he does have a perfect opportunity to showcase a double bluff in the coming days.
He will already have his line-up for Sporting in mind.
On one hand, we might get to see that player for player tonight - followed by several alterations against Norwich.
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Guardiola could, meanwhile, revert to type and provide subtle changes throughout these three games, culminating in him deploying what he considers, right now, to be his first-choice XI after a near-1,500 mile flight to Lisbon.
Either way, in equally important matches, there are two chances across 180 minutes for fringe players to force their way into Guardiola's thinking. Each and every member of his squad will want to be trusted against Sporting and the gauntlet has, ultimately, been laid down for them to prove they deserve it.
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