While Leeds United's injury levels aren't quite at the levels we saw for large swathes of the 2018-19 season, the queue for the Thorp Arch treatment table is currently longer than Marcelo Bielsa would like.
The Whites head to Villa Park to take on an Aston Villa side that have won four from four in the Premier League this season facing a shortage of bodies at the back.
Kalvin Phillips has been ruled out for at least weeks with a shoulder injury, while skipper Liam Cooper is a big doubt after he limped out of Monday night's warm-up ahead of the defeat to Wolves following a recent groin issue.
New signing Diego Llorente remains sidelined and Bielsa will be forced to shuffle his pack at the back, so how will his side to face Dean Smith's in-form team look?
Phillips' injury means that Pascal Struijk, who deputised for Cooper on Monday night will be needed in the defensive midfield position, which will necessitate changes in the back-four.
The most obvious option is to move Luke Ayling into the middle of the defence to partner Robin Koch. Stuart Dallas can then move over to the fill the gap at right-back, with Gjanni Alioski able to replace the Northern Irishman at left-back.
Bielsa's other options would be to look to youth. Oliver Casey has limited first-team experience but is an option at centre-back, while Leif Davis is another contender for the left-back position. Villa were rampant in their last home game, plundering seven goals against Liverpool, so Bielsa may opt for experience over these largely untested options.
Struijk showed that he was a more than capable replacement for Phillips during the Championship run-in this summer and he should be able to slot into a settled midfield, with Mateusz Klich in front of him, while Rodrigo looks set to continue in the number ten role.
Raphinha showed some promise during his brief cameo on Monday night, but Bielsa's track record suggests he will resist the urge to start Leeds' newest signing just yet and keep the faith with Helder Costa and Jack Harrison out wide. Patrick Bamford should continue to lead the line for what should be a fascinating match under the Friday night lights.
Predicted XI: Meslier; Dallas, Koch, Ayling, Alioski; Struijk; Costa, Klich, Rodrigo, Harrison; Bamford
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