The first Saturday of the new season presents Lincoln City with something of an unusual situation. Technically, the Championship campaign does not begin until next weekend, but the Carabao Cup fixture comes at a point where it feels much more significant than the usual early-round cup tie.
If this game were being played on the Tuesday after Middlesbrough, I would probably be advocating changes. Instead, there is a full week before the league campaign begins, and that makes Saturday feel like the final dress rehearsal rather than an opportunity to rotate heavily.
For that reason, I would go as strong as possible.
Formation
I am going with a 3-4-3, or at least something resembling the shape that served us well last season.
I really hope we do not revert to the 3-5-2 we saw at different points during pre-season. It has not looked particularly convincing, and there have been occasions where opponents have found too much space between the lines and been able to play through us.
The 3-4-3 gives us the familiar back three, two central midfielders and greater support around the striker. It also feels much closer to the structure that made us so effective during the promotion campaign.
Goalkeeper
George Wickens starts in goal for me.
There has been a tendency in previous seasons to use the number two goalkeeper in the League Cup, and ordinarily I would understand that. This time feels different because Wickens needs competitive football before the Championship starts.
Joe Gauci has arrived to provide serious competition, but unless there is an injury, suspension or significant loss of form, it is difficult to immediately see where his opportunities come. There will be other cup games during the season, but Saturday feels like one Wickens should start.
Defence
Sonny Bradley does not appear likely to be available, while Adam Jackson may not be ready to start either, which leaves a decision to be made from the remaining centre-backs.
At right wing-back, Tendayi Darikwa gets the nod. Josh Honohan has effectively been working through a slightly different pre-season programme after arriving later, so I suspect we may see him introduced from the bench rather than thrown straight into the starting XI.
Callum Elder starts on the opposite side. I have been impressed with him during pre-season and, at this point, I think he looks the most likely first-choice option at left wing-back.
His recent Championship experience is also useful. Adam Reach gives us another option there, but Elder looks the more natural starter heading into the opening weeks.
Andrei Coubiș would start on the bench for me. He played in the Doncaster Rovers game last weekend rather than being involved with the majority of the senior side at Barnsley, and that suggests he might still be eased into things.
I fully expect him to feature at some stage, though, and there is every possibility he could be pushing for a start at Middlesbrough once he has another week under his belt.
Midfield
The midfield almost picks itself because we are not blessed with huge numbers there at the moment. Conor McGrandles and Ivan Varfolomeev would be my two.
If Tom Bayliss is unavailable, there are not many obvious alternatives for those central positions. Other players can fill in there, but if we were naming our strongest Championship midfield today, McGrandles and Varfolomeev would probably be the pairing.
That may change as the transfer window develops, but for Saturday it looks reasonably straightforward.
Attack
The front three is where things become slightly more difficult. I would start Freddie Draper through the middle, with Reeco Hackett and Rob Street either side of him.
That probably looks slightly underwhelming given Mason Melia has just arrived, but I would expect the Tottenham Hotspur loanee to begin on the bench. We do not yet know exactly where he is physically after his summer, and throwing him immediately into the starting XI does not feel necessary.
The same applies to Ben House. His fitness should continue improving, but whether he is ready to start immediately is another question.
Street, Draper and Hackett may not ultimately be the front three we see against Middlesbrough, particularly with further attacking additions still possible before the transfer window closes. For this weekend, though, they are the combination I would go with.
There should still be plenty of strength on the bench, with Coubiș, Honohan, and Melia. Adam Reach would also be among my substitutes. His versatility could become important later in the game, particularly if we need something different from one of the wider positions.
I suspect the XI we see against Middlesbrough could look slightly different. Coubiș may have done enough by then to force his way into the defence, Melia will have another week of training behind him, and there remains every possibility of additional business being completed.
The League Cup may not define our season, but there are no games between this weekend and the Championship opener. That makes this far more than a conventional early-round cup fixture. It is the final competitive preparation before the real business begins, and I would treat it accordingly.
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