Tonda Eckert will have his main Southampton team selection nailed down for the visit of Bristol City on Saturday.
You would expect that the German would keep the likes of Keven Schlotterbeck in his starting XI, with his fellow compatriot barely putting a foot wrong so far during his fledgling Saints career at the back.
Likewise, he will not want to break up the blossoming midfield partnership of Flynn Downes and James Ward-Prowse, nor the terrifying trio of Cyle Larin, Finn Azaz, and Leo Scienza who can singlehandedly win games between them when on-song.
The attack just keeps selecting itself, with Lewis Dobbin likely having to make do with just a spot on the substitutes bench, again, despite costing a whopping £9m to snap during the frantic summer transfer window.
Dobbin's poor Saints start
Dobbin is yet to score in competitive action for his new club, despite scoring goals for fun during pre-season.
In the end, Saints fans appear to have got a bit too carried away with their new signing's exploits when the pressure was off, as he has gone seven games now in the Championship, and the EFL Cup, without a single meaningful goal contribution being picked up.
He wasn't even utilised during the 3-1 win against Swansea City, as the aforementioned Scienza was running the show down his preferred left flank, with the decision to bring him in for £9m, when you're so well-stocked, feeling a little misguided.
Did the South Coast outfit snap up the one-time Preston North End loanee thinking he was going to be the standout Brazilian's replacement?
With ten goals next to his name in the second tier last season, it's not the craziest shout to suggest he was purchased for such a bumper amount, with the view that Scienza would be exiting the building.
Fortunately for Eckert and Co, the tricky number seven remained put, but it has left Dobbin looking rather awkward on the fringes so far this season.
He hasn't been needed as a secondary number ten, either, as Azaz has excelled this campaign, too, with the easy-on-the-eye Irishman creating the most open play chances for the division at a mightily impressive 12.
Where does Dobbin fit in?
Strangely, despite sticking out as a misfit with no fixed position currently, he could shine against the Robins, if launched into the match, instead of being rooted to the bench like he was against the Swans.
He could shine against Bristol City if given a chance
The ex-Everton youngster hasn't just turned into an unusuable dud overnight.
It's clear he is a very talented player for the division when he's firing on all cylinders, and he has shown flashes here and there in Saints red and white, even if they've been very irregular.
He tested the Lincoln goalkeeper with one effort on goal from his 12 minutes of action during the 1-1 draw at Sincil Bank, and last campaign, when facing Saturday's opponents, he only needed eight minutes on the Ashton Gate turf to score.
The underperforming number 11 would capitalise on some poor Robins defending out from the back by slotting home a confident breakaway move past Max O'Leary, helping his away team clinch a 2-0 away win.
Therefore, if he's thrown into the game on Saturday, and the match is tense and tight, he will back himself to be a matchwinning presence, despite all his St. Mary's trials and tribulations to date.
Amazingly, as well, Dobbin has never come out on the losing side when playing Michael Skubala's men, from three career appearances so far, lining up for both Preston and, briefly, West Bromwich Albion.
Eckert is very unlikely to start the misfiring 23-year-old, but if he is substituted on in the late stages of the clash, it would be a great time for him to silence some of his St. Mary's critics with a decisive goal against a tough opponent.
Add us as a preferred source on Google