The Premier League has given its clubs approval to stage friendlies ahead of the planned June 20 restart, but the number of strict guidelines they must abide by leaves Bristol City out of the equation.
Lee Johnson's side have been back in training since last Monday and have now begun full contact sessions ahead of the expected restart of the Championship season in June 20.
Johnson is enjoying time on the grass with his squad, after two months of preparation in lockdown, but with their last competitive fixture on March 7 against Fulham, City could take to the field against Blackburn with a considerable 105 days between matches.
That's a gap beyond even the end of a regular season and the start of pre-season and given Johnson's attention to every micro-detail, the opportunity of having at least one set of 90 minutes will surely have been explored.
However, the guidelines that have been put in place, limit the Robins considerably in terms of identifying opposition in the Premier League and Championship.
League One clubs would normally be an option but the majority have furloughed playing staff during lockdown, and their season could be curtailed on June 8, meaning only the four play-off qualified teams will return to training.
The key rule imposed by the Premier League, which is likely to be followed by the EFL once the June 20 start date is ratified, is that no team can travel more than 90 minutes for a match and players must travel in their own cars.
Of the 44 clubs that make up the Premier League and Championship only Cardiff City, Swansea City, Reading and West Brom fall into that criteria as all the others are located beyond the 90-minute distance limit.
Given City still have both Welsh clubs to play in their remaining nine fixtures, and with Cardiff and Swansea still in the play-off race, they may be reluctant to give away any secrets ahead of the restart by playing a friendly.
Should the League One play-offs go ahead, all four clubs who will qualify via points per game - Wycombe, Oxford, Portsmouth and Fleetwood - are located outside of the 90-minute maximum travel time,
There is another option in League Two Cheltenham Town, who are preparing for an anticipated play-off semi-final against Northampton Town at the end of the month, with a practice match beneficial to both teams and just a 50-minute trip up and down the M5.
Michael Duff's side returned to training this week with the intended date for the first leg of the semi-final falling on the same day as the Championship kick-off.
City and Cheltenham have maintained a good relationship, with Whaddon Road providing a loan destination for a host of City youngsters, albeit not as strong since Gary Johnson left Gloucestershire in 2018.
Matches can either be played inside stadiums or at training grounds, which would be risk assessed before matches, and those involved would have had to have a negative result from coronavirus testing, while members of coaching staff will officiate the matches as referees will not be allowed.
Teams are now expected to organise friendlies for the forthcoming weekend and it's understood that Leicester City will host Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium as one of those matches.
Championship sides have already received requests to play games against Premier League opposition, and must follow the same guidelines. Full contact training for Championship clubs was approved on Monday evening.
Liverpool and West Ham have both held training sessions in their stadiums this week, with Jurgen Klopp’s side involved in a short 11 vs 11 match against one another.
