Hull City v Everton After three weeks without a game, Sergej Jakiroivc will be checking bodies and minds and trying to have honest conversations before naming his Hull City side to host Everton.
For those who were away on international duty, it is about what mood they came back in, but too many who stayed have physical issues.
Hull caused problems for themselves by signing players less than fully fit in the summer. Coach Jakirovic says it was because players were reluctant to take the plunge until they saw how well the Tigers started the season.
The worry is that this drawn-out international break sucks momentum from that.
INJURY DOUBT: Hull City striker Mohamed-Ali Cho (centre) (Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
INJURY DOUBT: Hull City striker Mohamed-Ali Cho (centre) (Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
Although, unlike Everton, they lost their unbeaten status in their last game, even the 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United was positive, the Tigers recovering from a poor start to be the better second-half team.
Substitutes Tim Iroegbunam and goalscorer Mohamed-Ali Cho were a big part of that and should be pushing for starts, but both have injuries.
At St James' Park Iroegbunam felt a problem in the knee which delayed his arrival until deadline day – "thank God it's not ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), it's MCL (medial cruciate ligament)," says Jakirovic – whilst Cho has a quad injury. Iroegbunam seems likely to play in Sunday's 2pm kick-off, just not from the start. Cho's involvement is less clear.
Matt Targett twisted his ankle in training, Ilyas Ansah, whose medical revealed a back injury, is due another scan in a fortnight, Charlie Hughes, Darko Gyabi (both groin) and Jack Butland (arm) are training alone, Elliot Stroud has recovered from illness and Hidemasa Morita (calf) – who also joined injured – and Brooke Norton-Cuffy (groin) are fit again too, but like Iroegbunam, minutes may be rationed.
KNEE NIGGLES: Tim Iroegbunam (right) (Image: Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)placeholder image
KNEE NIGGLES: Tim Iroegbunam (right) (Image: Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)
Joe Gelhardt’s medical showed an ankle issue he did not know about. Like Iroegbunam, Morita and Ansah, Hull pressed on anyway.
As well as reminding us medicals are not the pass/fail they are often painted as, it shows Hull have taken some gambles this summer.
Jakirovic is typically relaxed.
"It's because the transfer window is too long," he explains. "(When Hull made offers to players) they're calculating – players, agents, mum, dad. You have maybe a few options.
DECISIONS: Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic (Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
DECISIONS: Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic (Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
"Everyone struggled (to make pre-season signings), everyone was expecting this, but after two, three rounds (of matches), you will come if I call. This is the problem.
"Every player who missed pre-season, they will have a problem in the future, 100 per cent. No matter that you did individual sessions with your private fitness coach, nothing can replace group training, nothing. This is why we are showing 'loyalty'."
Eventually, plenty of Hull's prospective signings could see here was something worth signing up for but some need time integrating. Even learning English.
So could this next phase of the season be a transition between the eight-man core who anchored brilliant results against Manchester United, Coventry City, Aston Villa and Chelsea and the new wave?
HEAVY WORKLOAD: Scotland's Oli McBurnie (Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)placeholder image
HEAVY WORKLOAD: Scotland's Oli McBurnie (Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
"Why do we have to change if we are playing well?" asks Jakirovic, not unreasonably. "We lost in Newcastle but we played well in the second half and we had good substitutions.
"It's not about loyalty, it's about form, it's about that we took eight points (from the first four games), that we played well, and also it's about the rhythm of the game.
"All these new players will play for our club."
And if some are only fit for the bench, they can still play a big part.
"It's not about who will start,” insists Jakirovic. “You know my opinion, it's about who will finish.
"(But) if they are not ready (to start) – Morita and other players – we have fewer options."
Further complicating matters is 13 internationals whose readiness Jakirovic must weigh up.
"It's mental, it's fatigue,” says Jakirovic. “This international (break), I don't know why they did it like this. It was better before – two games in ten, 11 days. Now we have four.
"For example Oli McBurnie played every game (for Scotland). Also Mo Belloumi (for Algeria), he needs more time for recovery.
"But they represent their own country and this is the biggest pride."
Jakirovic has been there, winning five Bosnia caps.
"At least they had some minutes," he reflects. "For me it's good but if it's too many minutes, then I can have problem in my squad."
Working out who falls into that category is a skill.
"It is individual talks with the players – how do you feel?" says Jakirovic. "They have to be honest even if they have a big desire to play. We can avoid some problems in the future.
"But they are good, this is a very nice group of the players.”