Manchester City are due to play in a League Cup semi-final first leg clash against cross-town neighbours Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
The Citizens will be aiming to deliver a strong performance against their arch-rivals in order to advance to the final of the competition.
While City have a better side than United on paper, they cannot afford to take the game lightly.
The Red Devils have been unpredictable this season and did also defeat City in a Premier League game in December.
United have however not managed to win consecutive games against City since April 2010.
City manager Pep Guardiola may use the game as an opportunity to provide opportunities to fringe players.
While he will want his team to go on and win the competition, the Premier League and Champions League will be the main priorities for his side at this point of the season.
City are set to have defender Nicolas Otamendi available again, the club have confirmed.
The Argentine has overcome an injury after sitting out the English champions’ last two fixtures.
Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte remain sidelined, but the latter has return to training.
City head into the game on the back of a win after having comfortably thrashed Port Vale 4-1 during a FA Cup fourth round clash last weekend.
United meanwhile played out to a 0-0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
City tend to take the League Cup seriously and will be favourites to retain the trophy. United have a difficult test on their hands.
