Martin O'Neill will finally look to rotate his Aston Villa players during a hectic two-week period which could define their season.
O'Neill has tended to keep faith with the same nucleus in recent weeks and named an unchanged side for the last four Barclays Premier League games - all of which have ended in victories.
But the former Celtic boss is aware the heavy workload ahead means he will have to utilise his entire squad.
Villa tackle Arsenal on Sunday and Liverpool two days later and then have FA Cup third round and Carling Cup semi-final first-leg meetings with Blackburn in the space of four days.
O'Neill concedes his side were leg weary after the weekend win over Stoke - their third game in eight days.
He said: "To go to Manchester United and win, then travel to Sunderland last midweek and win there, and then beat Stoke at home on Saturday was great because we've gone in with the same team and subs each time.
"I have really good faith in the players. The players want to play for a start. Imagine asking (James) Milner if he wants to rest up for Arsenal, he wouldn't have it! "The same would apply to Ashley Young or any of the players. "But we have one or two fresh players around and this programme between now and the end of the calendar year, never mind the games we go into immediately in January, is definitely something to look at.
"It is a big period for us and I am quite sure we will utilise the players in that period. "I don't want to be making promises that I'm unable to keep but I think we will be able to change a few things.
"You will get players still telling you that they are fine but there's still that bit of tiredness. You take each case on its own merits and then you make some decisions on it.
"I am sure it will be pretty difficult for the team to keep going in the manner they have been doing. "In any case, I bet one or two things will be enforced on us in any case with injuries and suspensions.
"For example, no-one would have foreseen last year that Martin Laursen would only play one more game for us after Christmas before having to retire. "It can happen, in fact it will happen. Then we will see how we cope."
O'Neill is convinced his back-up players will be up to the task if and when he decides to utilise them. He said: "I've not made many changes recently because the people in the team have been doing so well but I still have faith in the other players.
"For example, young Fabian Delph from Leeds has not had a proper chance and it's been a learning time for him. "Other players who have played very well for us before - Steve Sidwell, Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew and Emile Heskey, when we have alternated - they have proved themselves in the past and I am hopeful everyone will step up to the mark."
Heskey is O'Neill's only fresh fitness doubt ahead of the trip to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. He suffered a groin injury against Stoke which forced him to be substituted midway through the first half.
A scan has revealed no long-term damage and O'Neill is hopeful the England striker can play in one of the two festive games.
