Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor and defender Kolo Toure look certain to return for the Barclays Premier League visit of Burnley to Eastlands.
Adebayor and Toure missed Sunday's goalless draw at Birmingham with ankle and heel injuries respectively, yet have trained without issues over the past two days.
Left-back Wayne Bridge and striker Roque Santa Cruz are doubtful and rated as 50-50 by City manager Mark Hughes with knee and ankle problems.
City boss Mark Hughes has urged Stephen Ireland to be patient following a period of frustration for the midfield star.
Gareth Barry and Nigel de Jong have been paired together at the heart of the midfield recently, restricting 23-year-old Ireland to cameo roles off the bench in the last four league matches.
But Hughes said: "We've changed the shape of the team.
"For the majority of the season last year we played 4-3-3, but we have changed to a 4-4-2 more often than not this year. Nigel and Gareth became a pair when Stephen went out of the team, did well, so Stephen has found it a little difficult to get back in.
"It's not really a reflection on how he is playing because he is doing exceptionally well in training games, or whatever.
"So on a daily basis he is getting back to where he knows he is comfortable with, and he is a great option for us. It's about him being patient and biding his time and he will get opportunities, he knows that. He is too good a player to keep out of the team for too long."
Burnley manager Owen Coyle could be tempted to name an unchanged side.
Full-back Stephen Jordan is expected to face his former club after overcoming a thigh problem sustained in the victory over Hull last weekend.
Jordan's love for City runs deep as he was once a ball boy and a mascot as well as a player.
He said: "I have some good memories of my time at City as I was a fan. I was only eight when I joined the club. I will have some family and friends there on Saturday, so it should be a bit of a special day.
"It is incredible what has happened at City with the money and the players they have brought in. But I'm not envious. I'm getting games and feel as though I'm improving because of that.
"I would rather be playing regularly with Burnley rather than being in the fourth team at City. I'm happy here.
"That's all that matters. It's getting harder hard for young players to break through at City."
