David Moyes looks set to make seven changes and a formation switch as the Scot aims for the Europa League last 16 with West Ham.
The Hammers travel to Austria today ahead of Thursday evening’s Group H match against Rapid Wien.
West Ham beat the Vienna side 2-0 in the reverse fixture.
Moyes knows a win for his side in the behind-closed-doors match will seal top spot in Group H and with it a place in the last 16.
A point may even be enough. Indeed West Ham could lose their remaining two games and still finish top of the group.
But Moyes will want West Ham to get the job done in Austria and effectively earn the club a four-month break from European matches as the last 16 does not start up again until March.
That would offer Moyes and his squad some welcome respite.
So far this season the Hammers boss has managed the schedule and his squad mastefully.
And he will aim to do so again against Rapid Wien.
Moyes suggested after the defeat to Wolves at the weekend that he may have to switch to a back five – or back three with wingbacks depending on how you look at it.
With a daunting trip to Man City looming large on Sunday, Moyes faces a bit of a dilemma. He wants to get the job done in Vienna but knows he must keep his key players fit for the Premier League clash against City.
So he may look to trial the formation switch with seven changes to the team that started the defeat to Wolves.
Predicted line-up: Seven changes and formation switch as David Moyes aims for Europa League last 16 with West Ham
Alphonse Areola will come in for Lukasz Fabianski.
Vladimir Coufal will come in at right wingback for Ben Johnson.
Issa Diop will replace Kurt Zouma and partner Craig Dawson and Aaron Cresswell in central defence.
Arthur Masuaku will come in for Said Benrahma and play at left wingback for West Ham.
Moyes may be tempted to rest Declan Rice. But he has started all of West Ham’s Europa games so far and looks likely to do so again, possibly alongside Alex Kral, who will come in for Tomas Soucek.
Nikola Vlasic will replace Pablo Fornals. And either Andriy Yarmolenko or Manuel Lanzini will replace Michail Antonio with Jarrod Bowen moving up front for West Ham.
If Benrahma is going to be dropped to the bench for Man City – as some suspect – then he may actually start the Europa game instead of Lanzini or Yarmolenko.
Should Moyes elect to stick with a back four he will still make seven changes but obviously with a different setup.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Rapid Wien if Moyes switches to a back five:
Areola, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell, Masuaku, Rice, Kral, Vlasic, one of Lanzini/Yarmolenko/Benrahma, Bowen.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Rapid Wien if Moyes sticks with back four:
Areola, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Kral, Vlasic, Lanzini, one of Yarmolenko or Benrahma, Bowen.