This weekend, Leeds United return to Premier League action following last weekend's fateful jaunt in the FA Cup.
Brighton & Hove Albion are set to visit Elland Road for the first time in the Premier League, and could be without up to four key players for the trip.
Graham Potter's side are known for being tactically flexible, and have used a number of formations this season, albeit with varying success.
The Seagulls are on an eight-game run without a win in the league despite appearing convincing in most contests. They truly are one of the Premier League's more confusing outfits, playing very attractive and seemingly effective football, yet cannot translate that to points on the board.
In eight of Brighton's 17 league games this season, Potter has started with two strikers, which is something of a rarity in modern day Premier League terms.
This has scope to cause Leeds United a major problem this weekend, and if Brighton have done their homework, they will have identified this too.
Leeds United's go-to formation is the 4-1-4-1 under Marcelo Bielsa, however when facing a two-man attack, the Argentine is unafraid to switch things up, instead preferring a 3-3-1-3 in order to retain a man advantage in defence.
This season, Leeds have deployed the 3-3-1-3 from the start in three games: Crystal Palace, Burnley and Crawley.
In two of those fixtures, Leeds have been defeated by a three-goal margin; the other a 1-0 triumph over Burnley.
For that reason it may be surprising that Leeds' biggest concern with the 3-3-1-3 comes in an attacking sense.
On average, Leeds take 14.8 shots per game this season. Rounded up to 15, that is a handsome figure for a promoted team.
Against Crystal Palace, the Whites managed just nine shots, versus Burnley just 11 and against League Two Crawley, a paltry 14 given the level of opposition.
Each of those matches saw Leeds' shooting come in below their average across all competitions.
It is a trend which is reflected in terms of their shots on target too. This season, Leeds average 5.1 shots on target per game, once again a reasonable return.
Concerningly, Leeds mustered just nine shots on target across the three matches they started in a 3-3-1-3, including just two attempts on target against Crawley last weekend.
There is a clear creative problem at play; if Brighton wish to do themselves any favours, it would be to start with two forwards so that Leeds somewhat nullify themselves.
Without the suspended Kalvin Phillips too, often the creative touchpoint for Leeds, this poses a potentially huge problem.
The reason behind this deficiency could simply be Leeds do not have as many bodies flying forward to join attacks, and therefore one less player to pass between in attacking phases.
It was apparent in the Championship last season too on the occasions Leeds' opponents set up with two attackers, although most of the time they found ways around it. In the Premier League, where opponents are smarter and defences tighter, it is proving a more difficult task.
The 3-3-1-3 relies on effective wide players who can equally double as interior midfielders. In Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski, Leeds have that, but to what degree are they effective against Premier League opponents?
Brighton's winless run should give Marcelo Bielsa hope, but the faltering Plan B formation must equally be concerning. This weekend will be an astute tactical battle, which could go either way.
