Manchester City begin their Carabao Cup title defense tonight at home to Championship side Norwich.
Post the Community Shield embarassment against Arsenal, the Sky Blues have picked up the pace and come into tonight's fixture on the back of a fiery five-game winning run in all competitions.
As for Norwich, the Canaries trounced MK Dons 4-1 in the first round and then overcame Cardiff City 2-1 on the road to get here. Can they pull off an upset tonight?
Here are three things to watch out in the game:
1) Geronimo Rulli set for his Manchester City debut
Maresca is set to make wholesale changes to his starting lineup, which could pave way for Geronimo Rulli's debut for Manchester City. The former Villarreal custodian returned to the club as backup for Gianluigi Donnarumma after James Trafford moved to Leeds United.
Tonight, the 34-year-old could finally get his chance to strut his stuff between the sticks for the Sky Blues in what's also an opportunity for him prove his mettle. With Donnarumma looking shaky this season, his position could be under threat and Rulli would be remiss not to take this chance tonight to make a claim for the starting berth.
2) Toure will be a test of City's makeshift defense
Manchester City are likely to field a a second-string backline constituting Abdoukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Marc Guehi and Rico Lewis on a night of massive changes. And the defense can expect a tough challenge from the in-form Mohamed Toure.
The Guinea-born Australian international took to life in the Championship by storm after joining from Randers FC in February this year and has continued in the same vein this season too, bagging five goals in seven appearances for Norwich. If he starts for Norwich tonight, City's defense could have their hands full from his directness, physicality and devastating finishing skills.
3) Academy stars come to the fore
Cup games like these are a wonderful opportunity for emerging academy stars to showcase their skillset and we as fans love to watch the next-gen in action too. Maresca has hinted at the involvement of some of them tonight, with Ryan McAidoo and Kaden Braithwaite among those in line to feature.
McAidoo has only played 17 minutes so far this season while Braithwaite was on the pitch for barely a minute against Crystal Palace. Both are highly-rated young guns, with McAidoo an explosive, attack-minded midfielder and Braithwaite a versatile, tactically aware defender. Both, and a few others, could get meaningful minutes in tonight's game.
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