Out-of-sorts Manchester City will need to be wary of Premier League giant-killers Swansea City when they meet at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Welsh outfit backed up their opening-day win against Manchester United with a come-from-behind success over Arsenal prior to the international break.
Garry Monk's side are fifth in the table and with every notable scalp comes more belief that they could remain in the European places come the end of the season.
Victory over a vulnerable City side who have won just one of their last six games in all competitions would take Swansea level on points with the English champions.
The hosts, who drew 2-2 with Queens Park Rangers a fortnight ago, have already afforded leaders Chelsea an eight-point cushion and cannot afford too many more slip-ups if they are to defend their title.
Confidence in the camp is low following a League Cup exit to a weakened Newcastle United, and several Champions League results which have left them in dire straits ahead of the visit of Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
The much-missed David Silva is still unavailable and has recently been joined in the treatment room by Aleksander Kolarov and Edin Dzeko, who lasted only four minutes against Rangers before pulling up.
Some good news, however, is that influential captain Vincent Kompany has trained this week, despite sitting out Belgium's Euro 2016 qualifier with Wales. The defender should be fit to partner Martin Demichelis.
Manuel Pellegrini may start Stevan Jovetic alongside Sergio Aguero in a bid to ease the burden on the Argentine striker, who has scored 10 of City's last 14 goals and 11 in his previous 10 outings.
Wingers Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge are both doubts for the Swans, but Garry Monk will be hoping that one of them is available to start on the opposite wing to improving Ecuadorian Jefferson Montero.
Jonjo Shelvey is back from suspension and should replace Tom Carroll in the middle of the park. Kyle Bartley is in line to continue at centre-back, with Federicio Fernandez still sidelined by a calf strain.
Wilfried Bony, who signed an extended contract at the Liberty Stadium this week, should start up front despite a busy international schedule, as Swansea go in search of a first win at City since 1951.
Man City:
Form in Premier League: WWWLWD
Form in all competitions: DLLWLD
Possible starting lineup: Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Kompany, Clichy; Milner, Fernando, Toure, Nasri; Jovetic, Aguero
Swansea:
Form in Premier League: DDLWDW
Form in all competitions: DLWLDW
Possible starting lineup: Fabianski; Rangel, Bartley, Williams, Taylor; Shelvey, Ki; Montero, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Bony
Sports Mole says: 1-1
Joe Fish
