Manchester City take on Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday having beaten Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday
Erling Haaland sits on the bench with teammates during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace
Manchester City left a host of star names out of their side for the Premier League game with Crystal Palace
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Manchester City's bench on Wednesday night contained nine players with squad numbers between one and 11. It was perhaps an indication of the strength of those players left out of the team for the Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.
Ultimately, the selection gamble paid off, with City running out 3-0 winners thanks to first-half goals from Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush, with Savinho adding a late third to seal the victory and move the Blues to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku were the headline names on the bench but Rayan Cherki was also among the replacements as Pep Guardiola shuffled his pack ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Those three seem certain to start at Wembley while another not called upon against Palace - James Trafford - will start in goal as he returns to the stadium where he impressed in the Carabao Cup victory over Arsenal in March.
Nico O'Reilly was not even with the squad on Wednesday night with the youngster rested completely. He will return to the XI this weekend.
Matheus Nunes, who has made the right back spot his own this season, was replaced on the hour mark in what felt a change with Wembley in mind, while Bernardo Silva was given the final 10 minutes off with the skipper a certain starter at the weekend.
Guardiola spoke of a need to make changes given the schedule, which takes City to Bournemouth on Tuesday just 72 hours after the cup final.
"When the schedule is so tight everybody is fit, everybody needs to help," he said. "The manager is here to take a risk. We have to take the decisions before and after it depends on the result.
"We will be judged nicely or completely the opposite. You have to take it. I trust them otherwise we wouldn't be here. We have today and in three days travel to London.
"Our opponents are waiting just for that game and don't have to travel, then we have to travel to Bournemouth - one of the top form teams. Everyone has to play these three games."
Of the other four spots up for grabs, Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov have been the established centre back pairing in recent weeks. It's unlikely Josko Gvardiol will start a second game in a matter of days while Ruben Dias has yet to start a match since returning from injury. John Stones and Nathan Ake are the other centre back options.
Semenyo has probably done enough to earn a start while Phil Foden will be hoping his recent auditions in a deeper midfield role could afford him a Wembley outing.
Mateo Kovacic came off the bench against Palace while Nico Gonzalez was not even in the squad, but the Spaniard sent City to the final with his stunning winner against Southampton in the last four. Rodri remains a doubt having yet to return from an injury sustained against Arsenal last month.