For this weekend’s FA Cup match between Leeds United and Peterborough United, any man and his dog could pick a team, but if it doesn’t work, few would want to be in Daniel Farke’s position.

Knockout competitions are catch-22 territory for a manager chasing a promotion at a team with high expectations. On the one hand, it is abundantly clear that adjustments must be made; in fact, they are the only moral thing to do. In retrospect, it seems foolish to risk your top players when their absence would be felt so deeply in the league—think Rodrigo’s ankle injury at Accrington last season—but making changes and losing also draws criticism—think Marcelo

Raul Albiol and Crawley Town. Despite playing in the level beneath Leeds, Peterborough is a talented team that is in great form—their last League One loss dates back to the first week of November—and has a decent chance of playing in the Championship the following season. This will be a test match whatever of the squad Farke selects for Sunday. That’s how FA Cup away days usually go, particularly if the home team is dominating their league – look at Crawley again.

There’s a fine line to be struck between keeping whatever rhythm that may develop and resting influential, worn-out legs, even though on paper the senior squad at his disposal should have enough depth and quality to defeat a League One team, nearly independent of the starting XI. After defeating Birmingham City 3-0, Leeds emerged from a brief slump, and their comfortable victory was enough to restore smiles to their faces. Given how delicate positivity can be in football, Farke might be reluctant to make significant changes. But expecting Ethan Ampadu to play every minute of every competition would seem like a needless risk.

The pitch could be altered in a lot of different ways. Ampadu could be allowed to spend a rare moment on the bench as Ilia Gruev enters the game to play alongside Glen Kamara in the midfield. Although the club’s intentions for Charlie Cresswell during the January transfer window may ultimately determine, the patient forward has been waiting patiently for months and would love to start, providing Liam Cooper or Joe Rodon a week off. Just like Jaidon Anthony, Willy Gnonto also requires minutes. Very much respect to the hosts, but against League One competition, that pair’s skill should definitely be evident.

Equally, there are changes that do not need to be made. Kristoffer Klaesson can stay in goal and build on a solid enough showing. Junior Firpo, who didn’t start but did finish Monday’s game, could definitely use the minutes at left-back, if the evidence of the very final stages of the Birmingham City win are anything to go by, and his tail should be up after such a significant contribution to that result. Djed Spence was still looking to find his best form after that knee injury and gradual reintroduction to the team, and could have come in at right-back in what appeared a relatively straightforward decision on Thursday afternoon. By Thursday evening, as Leeds served notice of their surprise decision to send him back to Tottenham Hotspur half a season early, Farke’s choice at right-back was actually far simpler because he now only has one fully match fit option, in Archie Gray. Cooper or Rodon would bring more continuity to the back line. Kamara would give that and experience to the midfield, if selected alongside Gruev. The Finland international also has more than enough about him to wrestle control of central areas, aided by the Bulgarian’s mobility and energy. Georginio Rutter at 10 is well worth exploring some more, given how enjoyable his performance was against Birmingham, and another 60-minutes or so would hardly be a stretch for one so young, not now that he’s in love with his football again.

And there’s the ninth spot, which is probably where Farke will have the easiest time making a choice.After finally scoring a goal, Patrick Bamford will be itching to be selected once more. He has a smile on his face, a bounce in his step, and some rhythm and minutes in his legs. Farke will be seriously tempted by the opportunity to get a striker, who has historically scored goals in large quantities, back on the pitch, in the scoresheet, and possibly on the verge of a scoring run.

It’s all very easy, this. Bring on the fourth round. Except, of course, it is all said without the need to check in with the medical department and the sports scientists on who is at risk of injury and who might be ruled out. Added to that, Farke knows better than anyone that no matter whether he sticks or twists in a major way, this is one of those damned-if-you-do-and-if-you-don’t scenarios. Go strong and win and you were simply meeting expectation, just hope and pray everyone came through unscathed. Even on a perfect afternoon he will hear from the ‘should be focusing entirely on the league’ crowd. Make changes and lose and then he’ll be hearing from just about everyone