Newcastle United need to beat Cheltenham Town in the Football League Cup, but they also need to responsibly rotate the side.
The game on Tuesday night is the first chance to see the new look side, spearheaded by Spanish manager Rafa Benitez, which is likelyto beused in cup games.
Under Alan Pardew and Steve McClaren, they were distinctly a second class citizen teamas Mike Ashley instructed his managers to focus on Premier League survival instead. Well, with that strategy in tatters, it falls to Benitez to try and win something.
The Magpies have a bigger squad available to them now after bringing in eight players during the transfer window so far. Not only that, but Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic's suspension is now over, which means he can play against the League Two side.
There are still a number of players who are yet to feature for United this season and it will be interesting to see if they are given time on the pitch. Former first team regular Cheick Tiote hasn't kick a ball in anger all season and neither has new boy Jesus Gamez.
If Benitez is looking for a game in which he can bring a number of players up to match fitness this should be it. On paper Cheltenham should not provide much opposition, but things rarely work out that way.
Which is why Newcastle need to be careful with the team they select. If Benitez wants to give players a chance to reach their match fitness, he should select them among those who have started the season in good form.
So it would be fine for Gamez, Tiote and Mitrovic to be included in the starting XI, as long as they are complimented with the likes of Chancel Mbemba, Isaac Hayden or Dwight Gayle.
This fixture could also be a chance for Ayoze Perez and Rolando Aarons to show what they can do in a competitive environment. Both of the tricky players are yet to impress this season, although their time on the pitch has been fairly limited.
United welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to St. James' Park on Saturday and while it's still early in the season the fixture will be vital. Benitez has to win both games, but he needs to be responsible with the team he selects.