That was always going to be the case given that Sunderland' s clear priority is League One promotion, but an early run in the Carabao Cup only heightens the need to protect some senior players.
At Sincil Bank there will be a blend of senior and U23 players, with a number of the former away on international duty.
Elliott Dickman's side also play an important league game against West Brom on Monday night, meaning there is a need to find a balance to ensure both teams are competitive.
There will undoubtedly be chances for a good core of his group, however, and those openings could yet increase significantly in the remaining group games.
So with that in mind, we run you through a (not exhaustive) guide to some fo the players you could see feature...
Elliott Dickman's side also play an important league game against West Brom on Monday night, meaning there is a need to find a balance to ensure both teams are competitive.