Brighton, the Carabao Cup and Five Men on Holiday!
A quick reminder before anybody settles down expecting the usual start: kick-off is 7.30pm (UK time), not 8.00pm, so don't arrive fashionably late and miss the opening half-hour.
The Carabao Cup returns to the Etihad on Wednesday evening as Manchester City welcome Brighton in the fourth round, with Enzo Maresca expected to ring the changes.
The fixture list, displaying all the compassion of a tax inspector, has handed City two consecutive home games against the Seagulls. Wednesday's cup tie is followed by Saturday's Premier League meeting. Same opponents, same stadium, different competition. At least nobody needs to ask for directions.
Maresca has confirmed that Argentine goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli will make just his second appearance for the Club. The manager has been pleased with what he has seen so far, and Rulli will be eager to make the most of another opportunity. Goalkeepers always appreciate a quiet evening, although City's defenders occasionally have other plans. Let's hope he enjoys the sort of night that doesn't require counselling afterwards.
There will be changes elsewhere too. Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Joško Gvardiol and captain Rúben Dias have all been handed three days off following the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
Three days off? Go away, recharge the batteries and come back ready for work. It sounds suspiciously like a decent employment package. Whether they spent the break relaxing or replaying the Villa result in their heads is another matter. Haaland probably needed a holiday from defenders spending ninety minutes treating him like a badly parked car.
With fixtures arriving at the rate of unwanted bills, rotation is hardly optional. Wednesday brings a cup tie, Saturday another meeting with Brighton, and there is little point running the same players into the ground before November has properly begun. The trick is making enough changes without making the side look as though the players introduced themselves in the tunnel five minutes before kick-off.
Brighton, meanwhile, are not making the journey north to admire the Etihad architecture.
They have been one of the Premier League's most entertaining teams this season, scoring goals for fun and playing with an energy that can make even organised opponents look slightly panicked. They attack with numbers, move the ball quickly and possess enough forward runners to leave defenders reaching for the aspirin.
Their Carabao Cup campaign has already produced a memorable comeback at Old Trafford, where they recovered from two goals down to win 3-2.
Coming back from 2-0 down at the home of JoMU is the sort of achievement that can brighten anybody's week. Mind you, we should be careful not to congratulate them too enthusiastically. We do have standards to maintain.
There is another little twist to Wednesday night's proceedings. There is no VAR in the Carabao Cup at this stage of the competition, which means we are returning to football's traditional principle that what the referee sees is what counts. No lengthy delays, no forensic examinations of a player's toenail and no lines being drawn across the screen by somebody sitting miles away. Whatever happens on the pitch stays on the pitch, for better or worse. Expect cheers when decisions go City's way and outrage when they don't. Some traditions never change.
Maresca knows exactly what to expect. He anticipates Brighton creating chances, committing players forward and making life uncomfortable in both games. City will need to be sharp at both ends of the pitch because Brighton are unlikely to offer the sort of hospitality that involves a pot of tea and a pleasant conversation about the weather.
The Carabao Cup may not possess the glamour of the Champions League or the prestige of the Premier League, but it remains a trophy worth winning. City have built a habit of treating domestic cup competitions with respect, and nights like this offer squad players the chance to make a statement rather than simply collect an appearance fee.
Brighton will arrive believing they can progress, particularly after City's disappointment at Villa Park. But this is still the Etihad, and Maresca will be demanding a response, a place in the next round and, ideally, fewer moments that require supporters to reach for the stress balls.
The Seagulls may be flying high, but this is Manchester City.
We don't need to shoot them down.
We just need to make sure they leave with their wings looking a little less impressive than when they arrived.