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This game will tell us a lot about the FA Cup final, while also telling us nothing at all. Indications are that Mancini will be resting a number of key players ahead of Sunday's match vs Tottenham. Players being rested are Pablo Zabaleta, Matija Nastasic, Gael Clichy, James Milner and David Silva.
Those players sitting will allow some other players to get into the lineup. Micah Richards will make his first start since October. It will be really good to see him back in the lineup, and see if he can be a part of the team going forward. Kolo Toure will likely get a run out at center back, while Aleksandar Kolarov will get a look in on the left.
In the midfield, Javi Garcia will get another chance to show if is worth keeping around for next season. Jack Rodwell is reported to be nearing full fitness, so he could be an option as well.
Three Things to Watch For
1. Will the defense be as organized if 3 of the starting 4 are resting? One of the strengths of the City defence this season has been the understanding between the back 4. We saw it in a key offsides call late in the match against Chelsea, when all 4 of them stepped forward, leaving Hazard offsides. Those sorts of small movements might be lacking with the new faces in the back.
2. If Milner and Silva are out, will the attack be fluid? Some matches it seems like Tevez is the only thing linking the central midfield to the center of the attack. Will the attack lack the finishing touch, or will City run rampant over a desperate Wigan?
3. Aguero. Sergio started to look completely gassed towards the end of the match against Chelsea. Will he have the energy to go the full 90? Or is Roberto Mancini only going to play him for the first hour?
4. Wigan Athletic are only 3 points from getting out of the relegation zone. Even better, they have 2 games in hand, which would allow them to jump all the way to 13th place should they win those 2 matches. Fact of the matter is, Sunderland, Stoke City, and Aston Villa are all just 3 points out of the zone, leaving the odds of some of them getting sucked into it pretty high.