Coventry City manager Aidy Boothroyd has said he won't tell the players who are likely to be his first choice until the season gets underway.
Boothroyd had hoped to have signed a Premiership striker on a season long loan yesterday which would have made his line up easier to decide.
However, the negotiations to bring in that elusive, X-factor striker failed yesterday, so Boothroyd has had to go back and to have a rethink over his strike options.
Boothroyd is quietly confident that the new look Coventry City side is getting close to how he would like it to be, it is close, but not quite there yet.
Boothroyd said to the CT:"I have a fair idea of who is going to start against Portsmouth but, having said that, anything can happen."
"It is far too early to tell what the starting line up is if you are a player, but for me I have got a fair idea of the specific ingredients needed to make that cake that can go on and do well in the Championship.
"I have got a team in my mind that I want to play against Portsmouth and the team that starts against West Brom tomorrow will be close enough that people might think it is close, but not quite close enough that people will think it is the team."
Boothroyd issued a stark warning to the players saying: "I can't have any sulkers or anyone moaning and wingeing about not being in the team because they could be at any second and they have to be ready."
"If the players see the line up on Saturday and think they are not going to be in the team then they are probably right, but if they knuckle down and get on with it they might."