Manchester City will be determined not to start 2015 by dropping more home points in the Premier League title race as they host Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens saw a great chance to cut the three-point gap to leaders Chelsea go begging on Sunday when they surrendered a two-goal lead to Burnley.
David Silva and Fernandinho had given the hosts what seemed to be a comfortable cushion before George Boyd and Ashley Barnes replied for the perennial underdogs to deny City a club-record 10th straight win.
Manuel Pellegrini admitted his annoyance at his side for failing to take advantage of Chelsea being held by Southampton in the lunchtime kickoff.
This time it is the champions who have the opportunity to strike first, with Jose Mourinho's team not in action until New Year's Day evening when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur for a London derby.
A four-goal victory over Sunderland would see City, at least temporarily, go top of the table, and therefore Pellegrini may recall Stevan Jovetic - the only senior recognised striker at his disposal - to lead the line.
There should still be a place in midfield for James Milner, while Yaya Toure, soon to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, is also likely to return in the centre of the park, having been rested against the Clarets.
Fourteen-goal Sergio Aguero, who leads the Premier League scoring charts at the halfway point despite continuing to be sidelined through injury, Edin Dzeko and Vincent Kompany remain high-profile absentees.
The suspended Fernando is also missing, so Fernandinho should keep his place. Gael Clichy may get the nod ahead of Aleksander Kolarov in defence, alongside Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala.
A frustrating 11th draw of the season against 10-man Aston Villa left the Black Cats 14th in the table and four points clear of safety, but Gus Poyet will undoubtedly take a point from their visit to Eastlands.
Sunderland's good recent record against the Blues does not stretch beyond the boundaries of Wearside, as they have failed to win on 10 Premier League visits to City, and were beaten in the 2014 League Cup final.
Poyet may chose to field a more physical side to combat the fluent hosts, with Lee Cattermole and Jack Rodwell poised for recalls to a midfield which will include Sebastian Larsson, if he passes a late fitness test.
Patrick van Aanholt and Anthony Reveillere are definitely sidelined, so Sunderland will likely stick with the same back five - with keeper Costel Pantilimon playing against the club which he left in the summer.
Having made two appearances off the bench since recovering from injury, Emanuele Giaccherini is pushing for a start and could get one should Connor Wickham be moved centrally to spearhead the attack.
Man City:
Form in Premier League: WWWWWD
Form in all competitions: WWWWWD
Possible starting lineup: Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy; Fernandinho, Toure; Nasri, Silva, Milner; Jovetic
Sunderland:
Recent form: LDDWLD
Possible starting lineup: Pantilimon; Vergini, O'Shea, Brown, Jones; Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell; Giaccherini, Johnson; Wickham
Sports Mole says: 3-0
Joe Fish
