Manchester City will return to the pitch on Saturday after a couple of weeks of international absence and transfer deadline day distractions.
When opening his calendar at the start of the week, Pep Guardiola would have been relieved to see that an FA Cup tie welcomes back his title hopefuls.
This fourth round tie will provide a much sterner task, arguably, than the one City faced in the third round.
Fulham are flying high in the Championship this season — five points clear with a game in hand over second placed Blackburn - which should see Marco Silva's men visit the Etihad during the 2022/23 campaign.
For that reason alone, Guardiola should be wary of the threat the London club pose without even looking at their January results.
The Cottagers have won five and drawn one of their fixtures in the opening month of 2022 but this is only half the story.
An incredible 24 goals have been scored by Fulham during this time including seven against Reading and six against both Bristol City and Birmingham City. No matter the level, that is impressive.
This Fulham side could certainly hold their own in the top flight and failure to respect the opposition could lead to a trademark cup giant killing.
But even if the opponents were not as dangerous as they clearly are, this City side need to bounce back.
The Southampton result at St Mary's was underwhelming and performances in the first half, from some, left a lot to be desired.
An early exit in the FA Cup would see City suddenly going two games without a victory and with the resumption of the Premier League imminent, it would not be ideal.
Pep's team need to go out on Saturday with the aim of showing that the result on the south coast was a fluke and laying down a marker for the rest of England to try and match.
Why would you risk jeopardising this by playing the kids?
Liverpool have already been shown the glimmer of light they needed to persuade themselves that the title race is back on.
A defeat to Fulham in the cup could send their confidence through the roof. It is best to dampen it on Saturday than to watch it grow.
Sign up to our City newsletter so you never miss an update from the Etihad Stadium this season.
