"Never change a winning team," the old adage goes, and Joey Barton will be wrestling with that notion ahead of Bristol Rovers' trip to Exeter City on Saturday.
After a poor trio of games to start the season, the Gas finally found some form and cohesion in victory over Oldham Athletic on Tuesday and Barton will certainly keep faith with many of the players and plans that served him well in that game.
But the return of a key summer signing from suspension complicates matters somewhat, but after a shortage of choice due to injury and COVID over recent weeks the manager will welcome a variety of options to choose from at St James Park.
Here is how Rovers are expected to line up in Exeter...
What XI would you select? Let us know in the comments section...
Defence
After an assured performance on his league debut, Barton suggested James Belshaw could keep his place in goal ahead of Anssi Jaakkola after the Finn suffered a flare up in his Achilles, even if the former Reading keeper proves his fitness.
Barton will not be making any changes to his back three unless he is forced, meaning Jack Baldwin, Mark Hughes and Nick Anderton will likely start.
Again, Barton will see no reason to change his wing-backs, with Alex Rodman and Harry Anderson combining on the right and left respectively to give Rovers an attacking threat on both flanks on Tuesday.
Cian Harries, Alfie Kilgour, Connor Taylor, Luca Hoole and Pablo Martinez are centre-back options for the bench, while cover options for the wing-back slots are in shorter supply.
Trevor Clarke could be involved if he is fit after a groin injury.
Midfield
Barton faces his toughest call in midfield, with club captain Paul Coutts available again after serving a three-match ban picked up on his debut at Mansfield.
Coutts, in most circumstances, would be an obvious candidate to return to the starting XI, but in his stead Sam Finley and Josh Grant have performed well and deserve to keep their places.
Coutts, therefore, could be a strong option from the bench in Devon, where he could be joined among the substitutes by Cameron Hargreaves and Ben Liddle.
Further forward, Luke Thomas is likely to continue in a number 10 role behind two strikers.
Ryan Jones, Sion Spence and Zain Walker will be fighting for places in the dugout, but Zain Westbrooke is likely to stay at home after being told he is free to pursue a fresh start away from the club.
Attack
While Barton was pleased to see Brett Pitman back on the pitch on Tuesday for the final minutes of the game, the striker is still in a limited capacity and his involvement on Saturday will again be capped to a cameo role.
With the veteran goalscorer on the bench, an unchanged attacking duo of Harvey Saunders and Aaron Collins could complete an unchanged XI for the manager.
Sam Nicholson is stepping up his return to full availability, having played 58 minutes across two substitute appearances so far, and he is likely to feature from the bench again.
Brandon Hanlan has been struggling with a knee niggle in recent weeks, but despite interest from a pair of League One clubs he could make the trip to Exeter if he is passed fit by club physio Stuart Leake.
Rovers (3-4-1-2): Belshaw; Baldwin, Hughes, Anderton; Rodman, Grant, Finley, Anderson; Thomas; Collins, Saunders.
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