Sven-Goran Eriksson is set to protect Sol Campbell from further disciplinary trouble by resting him in tomorrow night's Euro 2004 qualifier against Liechtenstein.
Eriksson will still pick David Beckham and Steven Gerrard even though they, like Campbell, are just one booking away from being suspended for the final group game in Turkey.
However, while Matthew Upson is set to partner John Terry in central defence, left-back Ashley Cole is expected to be dropped to make way for Wayne Bridge.
The England coach is also poised to select James Beattie up front for his first competitive start, with Wayne Rooney in the hole and Emile Heskey omitted from the proposed starting XI in training this afternoon.
Barring any overnight U-turns, it all adds up to four potential changes from the line-up which defeated Macedonia last weekend, with Nicky Butt injured and Owen Hargreaves also missing out.
Eriksson agreed he would feel rather foolish if either Beckham, Campbell or Gerrard - three of his central figures - were suspended from the game in Istanbul.
However, he is caught in something of a dilemma as he cannot risk failing to beat Liechtenstein, admitting that "if I don't pick them and we don't win the game, you will cut off my head!"
He will therefore place his trust in Beckham and Gerrard to avoid another booking, but Campbell is seen as more likely to be cautioned for a tackle that he is forced to make as the last defender.
The Arsenal centre-back, who missed the final four games of last season through suspension, has already been banned for one Barclaycard Premiership match for a red card against Everton.
He is soon to face a Football Association disciplinary hearing into his retaliation against Eric Djemba-Djemba in the Community Shield, and was then booked against Macedonia last Saturday.
"I think that was very harsh of the referee but sometimes, if you're a defender, it's easier to take a yellow card," observed Eriksson, who will still select Campbell on the bench, just in case.