Nottingham Forest will take on the Premier League champions on Saturday and if they cannot put three points on the board this weekend, they could sink below the top four, somewhere fans no longer associate them to be.
They have not picked up a win in the Premier League since the very start of February but their stalemate against Arsenal and resilient FA Cup performance, both at the City Ground, marks them as capable of producing different types of performances to get worthy results.
Reveling in the home atmosphere
The City Ground has been one of the contributing factors to Forest's success this season, and Nuno Espírito Santo described the catalytic effect it has on the players.
"I honestly believe that the players feel comfortable, they enjoy it so much and that reflects on the performance of the team.
"More than anything it is the fans, the noise, the atmosphere, the help that they give us, the extra run they make us do, the noise they make when the opponents have the ball, all these things come together, it is huge for us to play at the City Ground."
The atmosphere has truly found its force this season, with the fans given a style of play and a manager to rally behind. The results which have followed have brewed excitement and have fostered a home support that has spurred the players on.
Two of the seven defeats The Garibaldis have sustained this season have been at home and they have showcased their ability to delve into different styles of play when required.
The atmosphere remaining imposing regardless of how those on the pitch adapt has been evident and effective in forming an unbeaten record at home since November for Forest.
Nuno ensured he commended the Premier League champions and Pep Guardiola, who he has three wins from his ten matches where their sides have faced one another over the course of their managerial careers.
"Pep is one of the coaches that has direct impact on the game, his ideas, the way he approaches and tries to build his teams has a big impact, and it is contagious to all the managers because they see new things and different things."
Manchester City convincingly swept Nottingham Forest aside in the reverse fixture last year 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Nuno's side then kicked on and conjured up seven consecutive wins following that loss.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have been plagued with inconsistencies and brought in reinforcements in January, as the newly fledged squad begins to take shape under the three-time Champions League winning manager.
Nuno acknowledged the quality Manchester City possess and how they have changed for the better since their last match.
"It was not one of our best performances, it was a tough game that we didn't achieve all that we wanted from it.
"It is going to be even more difficult than it was before. He added, "we expect it to be much harder."
"A team that has been able to clearly dominate in the last years, a coach that has a big impact on the game.
"More than anything it is the quality of the players that we are going to face, and how good we have to be to try and control them. At the same time, exploit our strengths."
Chances were not taken, and City went on to run riot against Forest in their previous head-to-head. Nuno expressing that the challenge will be harder this time out could raise some eyebrows.
However, City will present a significant threat, especially with Savinho and Omar Marmoush seeming to inject more urgency. Nottingham Forest will still have the counter-attacking style they prosper with, but now it is integrated into the personnel and the execution is becoming even better.
They can also find alternative solutions and as Nuno illuminates, it is all about performances relying on what they are good at and sticking to that as much as they can, but they should accept they have the capacity to take into account what the opponent offers.
Alisson produced one of his best performances ever for Liverpool in the league leaders' narrow 1-0 win against PSG in the Champions League.
When asked about his assessment of the Liverpool keeper's performance and the fact that Matz Sels actually has more clean sheets to his name, Nuno responded by suggesting what his goalkeeper brings to those in front of him.
"The team is more solid, more compact. To compare with what we’ve been doing before, last season, I think we've (had) big improvements in our defensive shape, and that reflects on all the team and especially on Matz. He's been able to give us this confidence and he's always there to give us a hand when he’s needed."
"This is what you want from your goalkeeper, confidence."
11 clean sheets and Forest have conceded the fourth least goals in the league this season. They let in the fifth most amount of goals last season.
Their defensive precariousness and fragility has been turned on its head as their defence is something they are now known for being one of the best for.
Confidence has been what has propelled Sels to perform with regularity and produce heroic saves, like his stop in the penalty shootout so that Forest would go on to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
His long balls have also been an aspect Nottingham Forest harness in much of how they create opportunities.
Another composed and game-defining performance from the Belgian may be the key to keeping City at bay, while finding a variety of ways in transition and using Chris Wood to full effect will be decisive, particularly in their attempts to get the first goal.