The question that faces Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is whether or not he can afford to make wholesale changes to his starting line up against MSK Zilina and still come away with victory.
Villa require a win to guarantee finishing in one of the top two position in the Group F table with a game to spare.
Thursday evening's UEFA Cup game against the Slovakian side sees Villa needing only a solitary point to ensure qualification for the last 32 and the knock out stages. However, finishing in the top two places in the league table will guarantee Villa the enviable proposition of playing the second leg of the next round at home.
A home win against Ajax and an away win against Slavia Prague has put O'Neill's side in a very commanding position and he has confirmed that he will be making changes. Speaking at length in the build up about the talent of rookie striker Nathan Delfouneso, O'Neill confessed he may be tempted to throw the 17 year old in at the deep end with John Carew injured and Gabriel Agbonlahor in need of a rest.
There isn't much of a case to make for Zilina being a threat other than the fact that Villa don't seem the most potent at home this season and are no strangers to cup upsets. But, Zilina themselves have scored just once in the group stages of the competition and have only picked up one measly point from their three games.
It would be unfair to describe them as whipping boys as they have only conceded three despite having played both Hamburg and Ajax. So it will be no surprise to see the likes of wing wizards Ashley Young and James Milner as well as midfield schemer Gareth Barry, playing some part if Villa are failing to breakdown a stubborn Slovakian rearguard.
Perfect
Brad Guzan is expected to regain the goalkeeper's jersey for Villa following his excellent performance in Prague. Nigel Reo Coker will be hopeful of a start in his preferred midfield position after a patchy start to his season, playing much of it out of position or not at all.
Birmingham born Zat Knight will provide competition for Carlos Cuellar as to who will partner Curtis Davies at centre half, working on the assumption that captain Martin Laursen will again be rested.
With former captain Gareth Barry another unlikely starter it is Davies himself who is the presumable heir to the armband.
Left back Nicky Shorey is an injury doubt ahead of the game, a situation that will concern him no end as he could have used the game as the perfect platform to stake a claim for the left back role. It's a position he had made his own to some success earlier in the season especially in the last UEFA Cup home tie to Ajax.
Luke Young may again be asked to stand if Shorey fails to pass a fitness test as Villa have no real other options with Wilfred Bouma's return still some way off.
Marlon Harewood will also be pushing for a start after really falling out of favour this season as will Moustapha Salifou who seems to only ever be used in cup games.
Having fired blanks on no fewer than five separate occasions at home this term the home support will be desperate to see a few goals and this is a game Villa really must win to avoid going to Hamburg looking for a result in a fortnight's time.