Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic will receive a timely defensive boost for the first leg of his side's Champions League quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday.
The German giants bested PSV Eindhoven 3-1 on aggregate to reach the last eight, although Nico Schlotterbeck was unavailable for the 2-0 second-leg success, having picked up his third booking of the tournament in the opening fixture.
However, Schlotterbeck has now served his time on the naughty step and is now available for continental duty once more, but the same cannot be said for left-back Ramy Bensebaini, facing weeks out with a nasty knee injury.
As a result, Ian Maatsen should be bombing down the left flank for Dortmund, while Julian Ryerson will likely be given the nod on the right, although Niklas Sule did a competent job there at home to PSV.
With Schlotterbeck returning to the fold, the Germany international should join compatriot Mats Hummels as Gregor Kobel's central barrier, while Emre Can should be fit to operate just ahead of the duo in the number six role, despite missing Tuesday's press conference through illness.
Neither Marcel Sabitzer nor Julian Brandt made it to the final 15 minutes of Dortmund's Bundesliga defeat to Stuttgart on Saturday, but the duo should be selected to complement Can in midfield either way.
Up top, Donyell Malen's recent hip setback means he will miss the contest, so an unchanged frontline ought to comprise Jadon Sancho, Karim Adeyemi and Niclas Fullkrug, the latter bidding to end an eight-game scoreless run in all competitions.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can, Brandt; Sancho, Fullkrug, Adeyemi
> Click here to see how Atletico could line up for the first leg
Ben Knapton
