Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji are "more or less fine" to feature in Saturday's FA Cup final against rivals Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.
The quartet missed the Citizens' final Premier League game of the season against Brentford last Sunday – a 1-0 defeat – due to minor injury and fitness concerns, but they have all since taken part in training this week and will be available for selection versus the Red Devils.
Man City have also been boosted by the return of Nathan Ake, who started and played for 63 minutes in the loss at Brentford after recovering from a hamstring injury; the Dutchman is in contention to retain his place on the left side of defence but faces competition from Akanji.
In addition, Guardiola has confirmed that goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who has kept five clean sheets in as many FA Cup matches en route to this year's final, will start between the sticks ahead of first-choice shot-stopper Ederson.
The Catalan boss unsurprisingly made wholesale changes to his starting lineup last weekend, but Kyle Walker played the full 90 minutes against Brentford and he is set to continue on the right side of defence, while John Stones will likely slot back into his hybrid role alongside midfield maestro Rodri. Centre-back Aymeric Laporte, meanwhile, is expected to make way for either Dias or Akanji.
Ilkay Gundogan is poised to lead the Citizens out as captain and will presumably line up in midfield alongside De Bruyne, while Grealish is expected to return on the left flank pending a late fitness check.
Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden are both in contention to start on either flank, but will most likely provide competition for Riyad Mahrez, who will be hoping to start on the right after netting a hat-trick in the 3-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Sheffield United in April.
World Cup winner Julian Alvarez has started six of City's last eight games in all competitions, but he may have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench this weekend, with goal machine Erling Braut Haaland poised to return as the central striker.
Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ortega; Walker, Dias, Ake; Stones, Rodri; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland
> Click here to see how Manchester United could line up for this contest
