By Jack Simpson
Manchester City host Huddersfield Town at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup fifth round replay, with the winners set to face Middlesbrough in the quarterfinals.
Citizens defender Vincent Kompany is nearing a return to first team squad, with the centre half not playing since the 0-0 draw against the Terriers in the reverse fixture in middle of February.
However, the Belgian is not expected to appear, as manager Pep Guardiola confirmed at his pre match press conference that the game is expected to come too soon.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager also refused to confirm which goalkeeper will start the game, with Claudio Bravo being dropped and deputy Willy Caballero not entirely convincing between the sticks.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Guardiola said: “I have to think about it, not just with our goalkeepers.”
#PEP: (GK selection?) I have to think about it after training and in the morning. I decide from what I see and game by game. #cityvhudd
— Manchester City (@ManCity) 28 February 2017
“We were one week out. It is not how tired they are, more a final against one team who impressed a lot when we played there.”
Huddersfield meanwhile will be going all out for the upset against the Premier League side, when they square off against the five times FA Cup winners.
The Terriers do have history in this competition, having won the trophy way back in 1922.
However, the promotion-chasing Championship team will have to make do without their manager David Wagner in the dugout, as he serves the first of his two game touchline ban following the altercation with his Leeds counterpart Garry Monk in February.
However, the Huddersfield boss will be boosted by the return of defensive midfielder Jonathan Hogg following a knee injury he picked up in January.
One player who looks set to start is Joel Coleman, with Wagner confirming that the number two goalkeeper will be in the first XI at the Etihad stadium, if the 21 year-old is fit.
DW: “it looks like @joelcoleman33 is fit. If so, he will start at @ManCity for sure” #htafc (DTS)
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) 28 February 2017
Kelsey Palmer is definitely out, while Nahki Wells’ fitness will be checked following the hamstring injury he picked up in the win against Reading last week.
Defender Christopher Schindler also misses out with a knock.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Wagner said his side will go into the game full of confidence and freedom in how they want to play.
DW: “if we work as hard as we can & show our identity, we can do well. We play this game with total freedom tomorrow” #htafc (DTS)
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) 28 February 2017
DW: “we have no problem with confidence, but we are playing against one of the best teams in the world. We know who we are” #htafc (DTS)
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) 28 February 2017
Manchester City face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in their next league fixture, while Huddersfield face a mouth-watering clash against table-topping Newcastle at the John Smith’s stadium.