TEAM NEWS
Newport County
Mark O'Brien and Joss Labadie sat out Newport's defeat to MK Dons on Tuesday, but both look set to return to the starting XI. Andrew Crofts is still struggling with a calf injury so is unlikely to feature, while new signings Ben Kennedy and Ade Azeez are unfortunately cup-tied for this game.
The hosts will boast Padraig Amond who is the competition's joint-top goal scorer. His strike against Middlesbrough was his fourth of the FA Cup campaign.
Manchester City
Guardiola has the luxury of shuffling the pack for this evening's tie, with the aim of keeping the likes of Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero fit for the closing months of the season. Guardiola has recognised that he must not underestimate Newport County so will likely choose a strong starting XI for the FA Cup tie.
Guardiola also admitted he has not been playing Mahrez quite as much as the £60m man might have wanted so he may not feature, although the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane should. This match could be an opportunity for youngsters Phil Foden and Eric Garcia to get game time for City, while one of David Silva or Kevin de Bruyne should also make an appearance.
Benjamin Mendy is a major doubt as he is still struggling with a knee injury. Vincent Kompany is certain to remain on the sidelines.
MANAGERS' THOUGHTS
Michael Flynn
“We’re playing the Premier League champions and arguably the best Premier League team ever."
“I know it’s easy for me to say, because I’m the underdog manager, but the way football has gone now with the finances and the gulf in facilities and resources they’ve got, the players they’ve got and the manager they’ve got – it will be the biggest FA Cup shock ever."
“I’m not discrediting any results in the past, but when you look at the financial gulf and the level that Man City are playing at and the manager they have, that’s why I say it would be the biggest."
Pep Guardiola
“Anything can happen in one game, especially away from home,” the City manager said. “I’ve seen Newport’s last few games and they are incredible at set pieces and throw-ins. What they do, they do really well. They are taller and stronger than us and, in some areas, might be better than us, so we will have to make sure we play our own game and not theirs and focus on what we are good at.”
Commenting on the potential state of the pitch, Guardiola said, “the players have all been in this situation before, it is part of football and we will absolutely not be complaining about it. The players know what FA Cup football is about too, these sort of challenges arrive every year and we know they can be tricky."
FORM GUIDE
DID YOU KNOW?
This meeting is only the fourth competitive one between the two sides, and is the first since 1962 when they met for a League Cup clash. Man City have won all previous three, netting 10 goals and conceding only twice.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Newport County
Day; Franks, Demetriou, O'Brien; Willmott, Bakinson, Labadie, Bennett, Butler; Amond, Matt
Manchester City
Ederson; Danilo, Otamendi, Garcia, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Foden; Mahrez, Jesus, Sane