Bristol Rovers have the chance to make a statement at Swindon Town on Saturday and Joey Barton goes into the game with plenty of options to choose from.
Sam Finley returns to the fold after a six-week absence, with his three-match suspension elongated by a series of COVID-19 postponements over the festive period.
The midfielder is finally back in contention and he could come into the side at the expense of one of Rovers' brightest attacking talents.
Here is how the Gas are expected to line up at the County Ground...
What XI would you select? Have your say in the comments section below...
Goalkeeper and defence
James Belshaw's fine form continued with an excellent display against Hartlepool United last time out and the 31-year-old will continue between the posts on Saturday.
He will be backed up by Anssi Jaakkola, who made the squad for the first time since August last week after recovering from an Achilles injury.
Teenage talent Jed Ward has been loaned to Swindon Supermarine.
In defence, Barton could deploy the same back three that kept a clean sheet against Hartlepool, with Alfie Kilgour, Connor Taylor and Cian Harries keeping their places – though Nick Anderton is in strong contention for a place on the left side.
Harry Anderson, who scored in the reverse fixture in October, and Josh Grant are likely to keep their places as the wing-backs, with the latter getting the nod over Trevor Clarke seven days ago.
James Connolly and Pablo Martinez are options for the bench, but Alex Rodman remains ruled out with a full return to training after a broken foot on the cards next week.
Junior Brown is unlikely to travel after Barton revealed he was due to hold talks over the player's future on Friday.
Midfield
Rovers’ team selection against Hartlepool was deliberately imbalanced, with Barton confident his plethora of attacking talents would get Rovers over the line.
In the end, they did, but on the road against a Swindon side that has had more possession than any other League Two this season, the midfield is likely to be reinforced.
Sam Finley should come straight into the side after a long absence through suspension, slotting in alongside club captain Paul Coutts.
Antony Evans could also play as a midfield eight, giving the Gas three bodies in the centre of the park yet having enough quality in the XI to cause Swindon plenty of problems.
Glenn Whelan will make the bench.
Attack
Ryan Loft will be better for 90 minutes in his legs at his new club, with the manager revealing the striker’s feeling he could be a bit fitter and sharper in the aftermath of his debut.
Aaron Collins will keep his place in the side, possibly playing as a second striker alongside Loft to give Rovers a credible and varied threat.
Platforms to play from in the Swindon half will be key to upsetting the hosts’ control of possession and territory, and the Loft-Collins axis gives Rovers the option of playing direct into the striker or in behind a defence that will keep a high line.
Sam Nicholson, therefore, may have to drop to the bench, but he would be an invaluable option for Barton to call on during the game.
Leon Clarke will make his return to the squad after almost five months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, with Luke Thomas and Brett Pitman in contention.
Sion Spence and Ryan Jones appear likely to miss out, while Harvey Saunders is unable to play due to a broken bone in his hand.
Rovers (3-5-2): Belshaw; Kilgour, Taylor, Harries; Anderson, Evans, Coutts (c), Finley, Grant; Collins, Loft.
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