As Bristol City begin their League Cup campaign for the new season, head coach Dean Holden will have to weigh up missing several players away on international duty.
Tomas Kalas, Adam Nagy, Callum O'Dowda and Joe Morrell have all played for their countries, with Han-Noah Massengo away with the France U20s too.
And with Liam Walsh (quad), Joe Williams (thigh) and Nathan Baker (hamstring) all out with injury, the Robins are stretched - particularly in defence.
Tommy Rowe, Zak Vyner and Taylor Moore started in midweek at the back for the Robins and remain the only senior defenders to make up their three-man defence, in Holden's 3-5-2 formation.
However, young academy prospect Ryley Towler has been called up - although he is expected to be on the bench for the visit of the Grecians on Saturday (2pm kick-off).
Towler has played many matches at youth level in central midfield, but his reading of the game, height and technical ability mark him out as a possible future defender in a back three. And City's back three - if his rapid development continues.
The 18-year-old from Mangotsfield School provides the cover for those positions in this first competitive game of the season.
Towler is the latest City academy product to gain quick recognition - with the club handing him the 34 shirt yesterday in their confirmed list of squad numbers.
And there could be further academy involvement on Saturday as we understand that the Robins are set to name several young players in their squad, with plenty of first-teamers out of action.
Tyreeq Bakinson, 21, looks to be a certainty in midfield, while Zak Vyner should be involved in the defence, with the Robins looking to do better than their first round defeat to Plymouth Argyle a year ago.
Lee Johnson previously name-checked Marlee Francois and Ayman Benarous last season as two youngsters to keep an eye out for and who could tread a similar path to England U21 shooting star Jude Bellingham, and it remains to be seen who else makes the 18 for Saturday's match, with James Morton a possibility in midfield.
Could this be the launch pad for the next Joe Bryan, Lloyd Kelly or Bobby Reid from BS3?
"It gives the opportunity to a couple of youngsters to come into the squad," said Holden on Wednesday of the City squad for the weekend. There will be a couple of under-23s involved as well, which I'm really pleased about."
Expected Bristol City team (3-5-2): Bentley; Vyner, Moore, Rowe; Hunt, Bakinson, Weimann, Paterson, Dasilva; Wells, Diedhiou
