Last week, Manchester City sent a team to face Derby County in a bid to keep everybody on their toes during the international break.
The score was kept under wraps but by all accounts it was an excellent workout for the players not on international duty.
Lars-Jorgen Salvesen increased his minutes on the pitch, while the video of Patrick Agyemang scoring is something Derby will hope becomes a regular occurrence.
Whether both are involved against West Brom remains to be seen, but slowly but surely, John Eustace’s options are becoming greater than they were at Stoke on the opening day.
The injury list is no longer starting to resemble an episode of Holby City, and so it will be intriguing to see which team he selects at the Hawthorns this weekend.
Derby have played a back three ever since the defeat to Coventry, but as Eustace admitted in the aftermath, that was forced by the lack of natural wide players.
The arrival of Ben Brereton Diaz has at least eased that issue, which could tempt him back to the 4-2-3-1 formation that Derby initially started the season with.
If the Chile international has survived duty with his country, you would expect him to start, given his bonafide Championship quality.
Bobby Clark could fill on either flank, so there is genuine scope to return to Plan A, which is the vision Eustace mapped out when assembling his squad during the summer.
Carlton Morris is a shoo-in at centre-forward at least until Agyemang gets up to speed, but if the latter is on the bench, then he and Salvesen are excellent options to call on if you need them for 20 minutes.
It is a luxury that Derby did not have last season when Jerry Yates carried the burden of being the club’s number nine on his own leading everybody to pray he was fit every week.
During this transfer window, there has been a clear emphasis on giving Eustace greater strength in depth, but also technically proficient players, in order to move to a more fluid style.
Yet, as we approach the weekend, what Eustace does with the central midfield will be absolutely fascinating.
Derby were in the market for a central midfielder who could connect the dots from the base of midfield, but one did not materialise.
That was the only fly in the ointment in what was a hugely impressive window during which every position was strengthened with significant quality.
But it begs the question at to who will partner Lewis Travis in the heart of midfield should Eustace choose to return to a formation he favours.
Ebou Adams is not a player who can dictate a game through his ability in possession but rather his wrecking-ball style, which is effective but not always pleasing on the eye.
The only natural choice to replace him is David Ozoh, who, ironically, was excellent in the cup game at the Hawthorns last month.
Unfortunately, the last-minute penalty he conceded against Ipswich demonstrated a player who is still learning his craft.
It’s easy to forget that he is still only 20. Remarkably gifted, no doubt, but still a baby in terms of his career.
Technically, Ozoh is the better player, but what Eustace has to decide is whether to accept the odd rash decision, knowing that, in terms of the bigger picture, he is more suited to his vision for the team.
It will be intriguing to see what happens when the team is named at 1.45pm this weekend.
Derby (predicted XI): Zetterstrom, Johnston, Sanderson, Clarke, Elder; Travis, Ozoh; Clark, Brewster, Brereton Diaz; Morris
