Team selection has been no difficult task for Joey Barton of late, with the Bristol Rovers boss naming the same XI for three games in succession.
Seven points have been accrued in that time and the Gas have reached new levels in performance, meaning the manager has no need to shake things up.
However, there are matters to consider as Rovers take on Leyton Orient on Tuesday night. The fixture schedule – congested by the COVID-19 postponements over Christmas – is taxing and the Gas have a deep squad in many areas.
They also have star man Antony Evans fit again after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury.
So, will Barton see this as a chance to rotate, or will he continue with XI players who have served him so well in the past 10 days? Footballers do often say that fatigue is forgotten when they are winning games…
Here is how the Gas could line up at Brisbane Road this evening…
What XI would you select? Have your say in the comments section below…
Goalkeeper and defence
After three successive shutouts, Barton is unlikely to consider any changes to his defence.
James Belshaw will start in goal, with Anssi Jaakkola filling the back-up role on the bench.
Luca Hoole, Connor Taylor, James Connolly and Nick Anderton have been fine form of late, and their places in the back four should be secure.
Pablo Martinez, Cian Harries and Alex Rodman are options for the bench, with Josh Grant touch and go to make the trip after returning to training following a knee niggle.
Alfie Kilgour will miss out after he has suffered a setback in his return from a knee injury of his own. Trevor Clarke and Junior Brown are ruled out.
Midfield
The Gas have got a good thing going in midfield with experienced duo Paul Coutts and Sam Finley paired together, and it is their contrasting strengths that make them a good combination in the engine room.
Coutts moves the ball efficiently and occupies deeper positions in front of the defence, often creating a five-man defensive platform, giving the dynamic Finley chances to join the front four in both defending from the front and supporting the attack.
The pairing in midfield is a huge part of why the Gas have become an effective pressing team, and although Finley is just one yellow card shy of 10 for the season in the league, which would trigger a two-match suspension, Rovers’ are likely to be unchanged in the centre of the park.
Glenn Whelan will offer handy cover for Coutts in the deeper role, while Jon Nolan could make a Rovers squad for the first time since signing as a free agent on February 1.
Attack
Barton was rewarded with excellent production from his trio of attacking midfielders at Stevenage on Saturday, with Harry Anderson and Elliot Anderson scoring and Sam Nicholson notching two assists.
Any of them would be hugely unfortunate to miss out if Evans is brought back into the team, and their form gives the manager the luxury of easing Evans back into the mix with plenty of games left to play.
Barton said ahead of the game: "Evo will come back into the mix. The problem for him now is who are you going to leave out?"
The 23-year-old would be an invaluable ace up the sleeve for Barton as an impact sub if things start to go pear-shaped at Brisbane Road, and it would allow the Andersons and Nicholson to carry on where they left off at Stevenage.
Aaron Collins should also keep his place after continuing his scoring form for the Gas at The Lamex Stadium.
Ryan Loft made an impression with a brutish cameo against a beleaguered defence on Saturday and was unlucky not to score his first Rovers goal. He will likely be on the bench with Luke Thomas, Harvey Saunders and Leon Clarke, while Sion Spence could narrowly miss out on a place in the squad again.
Rovers (4-2-3-1): Belshaw; Hoole, Taylor, Connolly, Anderton; Coutts (c), Finley; Nicholson, E Anderson, H Anderson; Collins.
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