Bristol City are back in EFL Championship action as they host Coventry City in their first game after the international break.
The Robins are looking to avenge their 2-1 defeat to Leeds United last time out and will be eager to put on a show at Ashton Gate after their shock 3-2 defeat against Stoke City in their last match at BS3.
Nigel Pearson’s side will be without a plethora of first-team players for the test, including Nahki Wells, George Tanner and Zak Vyner, while Jason Knight and Kal Naismith are both racing to be fit for the match.
Coventry have their own injury list to contend with, and this weekend Kasey Palmer will be deprived of a return to the Gate. The 26-year-old was on the books of the Robins for three-and-a-half seasons, first on loan and then signed permanently for a reported fee of £3.5m. He's got a thigh muscle problem that will rule him out for the next few weeks, so supporters will at least know that one player won't be returning to haunt them.
An interesting battle however could be on Coventry's left side and Bristol City's right with summer departure Jay Dasilva expected to line up potentially against Mark Sykes. Dasilva had a contract offer from Bristol City this summer but departed and has since been ever-present for the Sky Blues in the league this term.
Below is how we think Pearson might set his Robins side up. Do you think differently? Flick through the pages to see our thought process behind it all…
1. Max O’Leary
The Republic of Ireland international has been ever-present in the City goal this season and will be in between the sticks on Saturday. Photo: GK:
2. RB: Taylor Gardner-Hickman
The West Brom loanee has impressed when he’s featured for the club so far, and with Tanner sidelined with an ankle problem, TGH is set to start at full-back. Photo: Rogan/Fever Pitch
3. CB: Rob Dickie
City are light on numbers at centre back to say the least. Rob Atkinson and Vyner are both out, and Naismith faces a race against time as he nurses a calf problem, which leaves summer signing Dickie as Pearson’s only fit senior central defender. Photo: Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
4. CB: Cameron Pring
Pring filled in in this role numerous times last season and looked assured there, if Naismith isn’t available for Saturday, Pring is likely to slot in alongside Dickie. Photo: Catherine Ivill