Russell Martin has the unenviable task of selecting the most important team of his short managerial career as Southampton face Leeds United in the Championship play-off final.
The Wembley clash kicks off at 3 pm on Sunday, and Martin will likely now know exactly which 11 players he will be sending out in a bid to secure a return to the Premier League.
Southampton have the psychological edge of knowing they have already beaten Leeds twice this season, with the significance of their win away at Elland Road on the final day of the regular season not yet clear.
Martin faces some significant decisions regarding personnel, but will be without some key players due to injury.
Southampton injury news for Leeds
Firstly, Gavin Bazunu, Stuart Armstrong, and Juan Larios will all miss out at Wembley, with the trio being long-term absentees.
The biggest question going into the final is whether Che Adams will be fit.
The striker limped off against Leeds just three weeks ago and has not featured since, despite Martin suggesting at the time of the substitution that day was merely a precaution.
Ahead of both legs of the semi-final against West Brom, the Saints boss implied Adams would be fit to return, but he remained absent from the squad in the second leg last Friday.
Whether that was mind games from Martin or he genuinely did think he would be able to call on the 27-year-old is unclear; however, the Scotland international was pictured in training on Thursday, and the indications from the club suggest he will be fit to feature.
The only other concern is Ross Stewart, who has missed the majority of the season through injury.
The center-forward played for half an hour in the first leg against West Brom – his longest Southampton appearance – but was an unused substitute in the second leg, with Martin citing a knock he sustained days prior as the reason he would only have been used as a last resort.
With over a week since that game, Stewart should be fine to take up a spot on the bench against Leeds.
Southampton predicted XI v Leeds
Martin faces two significant decisions ahead of the final.
The first revolves around the system he employs, with recent success using a 3-5-2 shape but also employing both a back three and a 4-3-3 at times in the win over West Brom.
The second hinges on the fitness of Adams and whether his inclusion disrupts the side’s successful navigation of the playoffs so far, considering Ryan Fraser’s seamless switch between left wing and wing-back during the West Brom win.
Starting from the back, Alex McCarthy will continue to deputize for Bazunu in goal, likely in his last game for the club given his imminent contract expiry.
Southampton may seek to take the initiative against Leeds, potentially leading to a back four formation. This would see Kyle Walker-Peters at right-back, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jan Bednarek at center-back, and Jack Stephens as an auxiliary left-back.
In midfield, the lineup is expected to remain unchanged, with Flynn Downes at the base and Will Smallbone and Joe Aribo ahead of him.
The composition of the front three hinges on Martin’s decision regarding Adams. If fit, Martin may opt for the 3-5-2 formation, allowing both Adams and Adam Armstrong to play centrally. However, Adams’ potential absence against West Brom saw wingers Fraser and David Brooks excel.
Given Fraser’s impressive performances and Martin’s praise for him throughout the season, it could make sense for Martin to trust the same side that performed well at St Mary’s to deliver at Wembley, particularly if Adams is not fully match fit.
With that in mind, here is how Southampton are expected to line up against Leeds on Sunday:
Southampton XI (4-3-3): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Downes, Smallbone, Aribo; Brooks, A. Armstrong, Fraser
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