Just eight games to go until the end of a turbulent season starting with the visit of Reading on Saturday following a welcome two-week international break.
Sitting 14th in the Championship table, safe from relegation and 12 points adrift of the play-offs, City will set their targets to achieve a top-half finish with the opportunity to start preparations for next season. With little to play for, although Nigel Pearson won't necessarily agree, it could give the likes of youngster Omar Taylor-Clarke to earn more minutes following his impressive full debut before the break.
A victory against the Royals at the weekend could kick-start the momentum needed to finish the season strongly with some tough games still pencilled in the calendar. Middlesbrough, Burnley, Watford and Sheffield United all await and Pearson won't let his side take their foot off the gas until the final kick of the campaign.
Some players may feel they can use these final eight games to prove a point and we looked at those who need to make the most of the opportunity that awaits...
Harry Cornick
The January deadline day signing is yet to get off the mark for City during his 10 league appearances since his move, with three of those coming as starts. He's switched from the right to playing in the central striker's role - the position Nigel Pearson eyes him in the longer term due to his physicality and levels of fitness.
It's completely natural to have a teething process when moving to a new club. New tactics, new team-mates, and new demands means it may take a while to adapt and play to a player's strengths.
Cornick is still awaiting making a real impact and showing what he's capable of. His one goal this season, coming in a 2-0 victory at Wigan for Luton in January, is a figure he'll be looking to improve between now and the end of the campaign.
He has the ability having fired in 12 last season with a further five assists and that first goal in City colours could be the confidence he needs to kick-start his career at Ashton Gate. There's no questioning his work rate, a staple to a Pearson side, but he will be yearning to show his qualities in front of goal.
Given the two-week international break, it may have provided Cornick the time needed to further adjust to City's tactics while working on those intricate passages of play in and around the area. With Mark Sykes also suspended for the next four matches, it could provide Cornick with the ideal opportunity to hit the ground running following the restart.
Andi Weimann
Whether his recent appointment as captain following the departure of Dan Bentley in January adds to the weight of expectation on his shoulders is unclear, but Weimann has not been shy in admitting he's faced a frustrating season.
That is magnified by his remarkable 22-goal haul last season having struggled to match those levels with five to his name this time around. The biggest debate regarding the 31-year-old is where he fits into Pearson's system since the switch of formation.
Last season, he was prolific in that No10 role but that has since been occupied by Alex Scott meaning Weimann has had to juggle his positions including playing as the main striker, right-wing, left-wing and in central midfield. His brilliant strike at Blackpool earlier this month, his first since November, was a sign that Weimann can get his mojo back in front of goal for the final eight matches of the season.
That, of course, depends on how many minutes he earns. While the injury crisis before the break depleted options at the back and in midfield, the forward line remains strong with Sykes, Nahki Wells, Anis Mehmeti, Sam Bell and Cornick all vying for places.
As mentioned above, Sykes' ban means Pearson could move Weimann out to the right side where he has played for large periods of his career. He has the energy and tenacity to fill that role and as shown last season, he can time his runs into the area and at the back post to latch onto any crosses coming from the other side.
Weimann was called up for international duty but was an unused substitute for their double-header of matches, which will be welcome news from a City perspective given it provides an opportunity to recoup for the final run-in of fixtures - one that he will be hoping to play a big role in.
Kane Wilson
It's been a long and disappointing season for Wilson who has yet to make his first league start following the furore surrounding his arrival over the summer. A small injury picked up in pre-season meant he fell behind Sykes in the pecking order, forced to wait for his opportunity before picking up an injury against QPR at the beginning of October that forced him to undergo surgery.
In February, he made his return to Under-21 action with Pearson eager to proceed with caution in his recovery and he made the matchday squad for the first time in five months for the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield. Albeit, partly due to City's threadbare squad given the number of injuries in the squad.
In the 2-0 defeat at Swansea before the break, he made his long-awaited return for the final 10 minutes and he will be hoping that trend can continue in the final five weeks of the season. There's no doubt Wilson provides an attacking and exciting threat, having earned 13 assists last season in League Two, but there will be question marks over his levels of match fitness and being tested psychologically having come back from a serious injury.
Signed predominantly to solve City's ongoing right wing-back position last season, the change of shape to a back four means he may need to adapt his game going forward. Whether that's playing as a right-back, a position George Tanner has made his own, or further forward with an emphasis to attack, Wilson will need to show he can carry that threat to get forward while not sacrificing his defensive duties.
If Pearson can get Wilson back reaching his ability and potential, he will feel like a new signing.
Tomas Kalas
It was almost like he had never been away when he finally made his first start against Sunderland in February after almost a year out of action with ongoing knee and groin problems. He then started four consecutive matches, including that impressive showing against Manchester City, before being forced off in the 2-0 defeat at Cardiff with another issue.
Before the international break following the game at Swansea, Pearson was hopeful Kalas could make it back into the squad for the game against Reading on Saturday although the likelihood is that the Good Friday trip to Stoke will be a more realistic timeframe for his recovery.
Kalas proved during those four matches that he is still a superb defender but the question marks remains whether he can prove his fitness - not just to City but also to himself. Back in October, he broke down after two brief substitute appearances and therefore the club were very cautious in his recovery, refusing to rush him back to avoid a repeat of his problems.
He is out of contract at the end of the season and given he has one, if not the highest salaries in the squad, he will want to show he can justify he can still manage the rigours of Championship football and earn a new deal on reduced terms.
Tommy Conway
We're cautious to include Conway amongst those who will feel they need to prove a point but as he waits for his eagerly-anticipated return from a hamstring injury and with the City golden boot still in his sights, the youngster will be eager to make up for lost time.
Conway, who hasn't featured since the draw to Coventry on New Year's Day, sits two goals behind Nahki Wells who occupies the club's top scorers list with 11. Although we may have to manage expectations on his return with Pearson likely to ease him back into first-team action and prevent the risk of further problems.
With City's strength in depth in attack, Pearson has the luxury of being able to rotate his options going forward meaning Conway could be asked to make an impact from the bench, at least for the next handful of matches. Getting up to speed following a lengthy spell out, added to the fact he is still enjoying a breakthrough season, means patience could be required.
But as he has shown earlier in the season, Conway's confidence thrives off goals and once he scores run, he is capable of going on a goalscoring streak. Towards the beginning of the season, he scored seven in eight games before having to wait another nine matches for his next strike.
It will also be interesting to see where he fits into the system. He forged a prolific partnership alongside Wells through the middle of the pitch but with City now playing with a lone central striker, Conway will want to prove he has the qualities to make that spot his own.
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
READ NEXT
