“Rotation” is one of modern football’s buzzwords but in the ebb and flow of a Premier League season, Leeds United players have done a good job of taking it in turn to shine.
It is only 10 weeks since they beat Chelsea, a win which really kick-started their Premier League survival bid, but they will be counting on different players in Tuesday's reverse fixture at at Stamford Bridge.
Incredibly, considering the form he is in, James Justin was back on the bench that night having only made his first start for the Whites the previous weekend at Manchester City, Ilia Gruev after his third of the campaign. It was only Jaka Bijol's fourth Premier League start.
RELIABLE: Ilia Gruev (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
RELIABLE: Ilia Gruev (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
All could have important roles on Tuesday, along with a rejuvenated Brenden Aaronson, who looked a little boy lost back then. Jayden Bogle has found form and the spark that lit in Dominic Calvert-Lewin that week has burst into flames.
It shows how crucial a squad is but also the importance of not having one so big that players feel marginalised without all the extra fixtures Chelsea have to contend with.
"For every player a Premier League season is always more or less like for a team, there are always ups and downs," argues manager Daniel Farke.
"It's quite normal you sometimes shine a bit more and then you have a more difficult spell. The main thing is just to make sure that you deliver with the best possible consistency.
STEADY: Leeds United manager Daniel Farke tries his best to control his emotions (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)placeholder image
STEADY: Leeds United manager Daniel Farke tries his best to control his emotions (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
"We have more or less used every player already. This is what I like, the importance of every player.
"Everyone was already praised for some performances, sometimes criticised. It's just important that you stay level-headed.
"When I think about Dominic, for example, everyone is singing his praises (but) in the beginning (of the season) he missed a few chances, went a few games without a goal. There were many doubts.
"Then he had a (club) record run of back-to-back games scoring, then perhaps two or three games without a goal. So it's always ups and downs.
RISING FORCE: James Justin was no more than a Leeds United back-up when they beat Chelsea in December, now he is one of their most in-form players (Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
RISING FORCE: James Justin was no more than a Leeds United back-up when they beat Chelsea in December, now he is one of their most in-form players (Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
"The thing is to stay on it, show consistency, never be too high after a good performance or lots of praise, never be too down when there is a difficult spell."
Gruev, who has come to the fore in 2026, is a case in point.
"Ilia is always and was always a very reliable player for us," says Farke. "You always get a seven out of 10 performance from him.
"He's a defensive midfielder by nature and it's important to be the glue and the balance. Together with Ethan Ampadu often he gives a bit more freedom for more offensive-thinking players but he's also capable of a high passing accuracy and can set up our attacks (making two goals against Nottingham Forest).
"He has really good defensive awareness, is technically always spot on, covers more than 12k every game and helps us with his passing reliability."
Farke tries to lead the way in the steadiness stakes, reacting the same in victory and defeat.
"The fire is burning inside and I'm a pretty emotional person," he insists. "If you ask the players how I am in the dressing room, sometimes I think they would admit it.
"But if you want to be a manager at this level, you can't jump around on the sideline or in the press conference. Players need a proper leader where they know they can trust him and he stays balanced and calm.
"I have to take reasonable decisions so I can't allow myself to burst out too often with my emotions. Sometimes during the game it happens and you can't take it away.
"But it's important that after the game, before the game, during the game you are concentrated and focused. If you play for such a passionate club, it never works if you have a coach who can't handle the heat."
Chelsea will be much-changed too, an end-of-year explosion from Enzo Maresca seeing the managerial reins passed to former Hull City coach Liam Rosenior, who has hit the ground running with seven wins in his first nine games.
"I first came across him when he was a pundit," says Farke. "I always thought his judgments about games and what he said about the game made a lot of sense.
"He had the natural (progression), first of all as an assistant manager (at Derby County), then he took over at Hull.
"I liked the way he set up his team – they played proper football. It was not easy to find solutions against it.
"I was quite surprised that he had to leave a couple of years ago because I think he's done a more than decent job over there.
"It's a big stage, a big opportunity for them. I'm quite sure that he’ll try everything to grab this chance with both hands.
"He's definitely a very talented and promising manager."