Manchester United are set to name a strong side for the pre-season friendly clash against AC Milan in Cardiff, with a view to the upcoming Premier League season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been regularly ringing the changes in United's pre-season games so far, but the International Champions Cup clash at the Principality Stadium may be a chance for him to drill his first XI.
The United boss has previously hinted that he'll have an eye on the season curtain-raiser against Chelsea when he selects his side for AC Milan.
"We're getting close to the league then," Solskjaer said on this weekend's game. "To play against Milan in Cardiff is a great chance for us to put the full team out and test ourselves before the league starts.
"We've got seven or eight days after this AC Milan game so that's going to be vital game for us to just lay the last little foundations so we're ready for the league."
With that in mind, a back four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones and Luke Shaw looks likely — with Jones ahead of Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Axel Tuanzebe in the centre-back pecking order and Eric Bailly injured. Harry Maguire is United's transfer choice to come into that position, but a deal is yet to be done.
In midfield, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay have become the stand-out choices in Solskajer's two-man pairing, while Daniel James looks the most likely to nail down the right-wing slot. It looks to be a straight choice for Solskjaer between Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard in the No.10 role, with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford interchanging between left wing and central striking positions.
This could well be Solskjaer's side for both the AC Milan game and the Premier League opener against Chelsea — although United will hope to have the signings of Harry Maguire and Paulo Dybala.
Predicted United lineup: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw; McTominay, Pogba; James, Mata, Martial; Rashford.
