After 10 days of isolation and reflection, a few hours on the training ground and Christmas day celebrations, Bristol Rovers are back in League One action.
Rovers Pirates travel to MK Dons on Boxing Day in hope of maintaining their pre-COVID-19 outbreak momentum by winning their fourth game in succession.
The enforced period of quarantine should have given several players a much-needed rest, but with a daunting fixture list ahead the manager will be wondering how best to deploy his resources for the games ahead.
However, Tisdale is expected to preserve the same core which served him well in theupturn in form at the start of the month. With that in mind, here is the expected James Daly's ankle injury team to play at Stadium MK.
Defence
Anssi Jaakkola missed the 3-0 win over Plymouth on December 12 with a niggling injury, but Tisdale was hopeful he would be fit to play against the eventually-cancelled trip to Charlton Athletic a few days later. The Finland international should start on Boxing Day, with Jordi van Stappershoef on the bench.
An unchanged back four is likely to be selected, with Max Ehmer skippering the side at right-back. Luke Leahy will play opposite him at left-back.
Alfie Kilgour and Jack Baldwin will anchor the defence at centre-back, with Cian Harries, Josh Hare and Ali Koiki likely to be defensive options on the bench.
Mark Little, David Tutonda and Alex Rodman are also back in contention.
Midfield
The back-to-back league wins against AFC Wimbledon and Plymouth have seen Rovers deploy a midfield trio of Ed Upson, Josh Grant and Zain Westbrooke, and Tisdale has no reason to change that formula on Boxing Day.
Upson will sit at the base of the diamond as a single pivot, with Grant and Westbrooke playing as eights either side of them, tasked with pressing higher and getting Rovers on the front foot.
There is fierce competition at the head of the diamond in the number 10 role, with Erhun Oztumer and Luke McCormick in contention.
The former was outstanding at AFC Wimbledon but illness ruled him out against Plymouth, and McCormick starred in his absence with a goal and an assist.
It's a tough decision for Tisdale, but through his tenure he has trusted experience, meaning Oztumer is likely to get the nod over Chelsea loanee McCormick.
Josh Barrett, Ben Liddle and Cameron Hargreaves are possible options for the bench.
Attack
James Daly's ankle injury will rule him out over the festive period, so Tisdale will stick with his favoured attacking duo of Brandon Hanlan and Sam Nicholson.
Jonah Ayunga and Zain Walker are expected to make the bench.
Rovers (4-3-1-2): Jaakkola; Ehmer (c), Kilgour, Baldwin, Leahy; Upson, Grant, Westbrooke; Oztumer; Hanlan, Nicholson.
