Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez says he plans to rotate his team for Tuesday's final Champions League game at home to Malmo, while suggesting Denis Cheryshev is unlikely to feature amid the Copa del Rey controversy.
Madrid have already qualified as Group A winners and are therefore sure to be seeded in the draw for the last 16, giving Benitez a chance to rest some senior players and hand other squad members a chance.
This would usually open up a chance for Cheryshev to feature, but it appears that the Russia winger will be kept out of view given the ongoing controversy over him playing while being ineligible in the Copa del Rey at Cadiz last week.
The Blancos coach told his pregame news conference that he had not yet decided his starting XI, while saying that nobody should be surprised should Cheryshev again not make the final cut.
"I will not say the XI, so will not say if he will play or not," Benitez said. "[Cheryshev] has not played much -- so if he does not play, it is not for any special reason. He is competing against top level players, so he needs to work hard in training and impress."
Madrid are set to appeal a Spanish FA decision to throw them out of this year's Copa for fielding Cheryshev in last Wednesday's last-32 first leg at Cadiz.
Benitez maintained the line promoted by club president Florentino Perez that they would ultimately be cleared to continue in the competition, saying: "Of course, we still think we are right, and have a lot of confidence in what courts will decide in end."
Youngsters Borja Mayoral and Martin Odegaard would not be in the matchday squad for the Malmo game, as Benitez said he needed to give playing time to more senior squad members.
"It is a day for rotation, always with the idea of winning the game," he said. "We are very satisfied to have already qualified first in the group.
"We are happy with Borja and Martin, but this is a chance to give playing time to players coming back from injury and others in our squad. So there is no room.
"Marcos Llorente is the only youth team player being called up, and we already consider him a first team player as he is with us often."
Left-back Marcelo is expected to be one of those players coming back from injury to feature against the Swedes, but club captain Sergio Ramos is more likely to return next Sunday at Villarreal in La Liga.
"Ramos is improving, but he's not in the squad for tomorrow," Benitez said. "I believe he will be back for the game at Villarreal."
Benitez declined to comment on speculation regarding Madrid's possible interest in signing Bayern Munich centre-forward Robert Lewandowski, after the Poland international's agent was reportedly spotted in the Bernabeu crowd during Saturday's 4-1 La Liga win against Getafe.
"In the news conference before a Champions League game I will not talk about signings or other players," he added. "I just think about the game, Malmo, and what team can do tomorrow."