Manchester City can go three points clear at the top of the Premier League table on Sunday afternoon as face Sunderland in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium
Elliot Anderson returns to the Manchester City line-up against Sunderland after being rested in midweek.
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City go into the fixture on the back of six consecutive wins across all competitions, a run that includes the 1-0 derby victory at Old Trafford last weekend and Thursday's 5-0 Carabao Cup thrashing of Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium, in which City academy graduates Floyd Samba and Ryan McAidoo scored three times between them and Allan Elias contributed a goal and an assist on his debut in sky blue.
Phil Foden is absent, serving the second game of a three-match domestic ban following his red card against Manchester United last Sunday.
The England international will also miss the trip to Liverpool on October 11 before returning for the Champions League fixture with Paris Saint-Germain on October 14.
Doku returns to the bench after Maresca said at his post-Norwich press conference that a return was "probable" against Sunderland, though the Belgium international is unlikely to be rushed back to full fitness until he can sustain a run of games without disruption.
Sunderland arrive at the Etihad Stadium in impressive form themselves, with Maresca issuing a warning to his squad on Thursday, describing them as "very well coached" in the build-up to the fixture.
The north-east club, back in the Premier League this season, are no strangers to the top-flight and carry the tactical organisation of a side built to compete rather than simply make up the numbers.
After a resounding win in the Carabao Cup third round, Manchester City return to Premier League action with a clash against Regis Le Bris' Sunderland.cityxtra.co.ukMatch Preview: Man City vs Sunderland (Premier League)
After a resounding win in the Carabao Cup third round, Manchester City return to Premier League action with a clash against Regis Le Bris' Sunderland.
City have made an impressive start to the Maresca era and director of football Hugo Viana will be delighted with how well the Blues' late transfer window arrivals - Enzo Fernandez, Iliman Ndiaye, Allan Elias and Ayyoub Bouaddi - have settled into life in England.
The Blues have undergone a major squad revamp following Pep Guardiola's departure as manager and it looks so far, so good for Maresca and co, who can go three points clear at the top of the English top-flight with a win over Sunderland and Regis Le Bris on Sunday.
Arsenal fell to a shock yet deserved 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, with City now having the chance to restore their position at the summit - having shuffled their pack in midweek.
Ahead of Sunday's 14:00 UK kick-off between Manchester City and Sunderland, here are the confirmed line-ups from the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City
Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland
Substitutes: Rulli, Kovacic, Doku, Ait-Nouri, Bouaddi, O'Reilly, Allan, Khusanov, Lewis
Sunderland
Starting XI: Roefs; Mukiele, Danso, Ballard, Methalie; Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee; Meunier, Brobbey, Angulo
Substitutes: Ellborg, Hume, O'Nien, Alderete, Ahoka, Rigg, Talbi, Fofana, Isidor