Roberto Mancini has given Adam Johnson and Samir Nasri the chance to impress as they welcome Stoke City to the Etihad Stadium.
There is also no place on the bench or in the starting line-up for Edin Dzecko who was expected to be fit for the game after shaking off a knock he picked up in training.
Tony Pulis is without Ryan Shawcross after the defender picked up his fifth yellow card and is therefore suspended for the tie.
Gael Clichy has returned to the Manchester City line-up after serving a suspension, coming in for the injured Aleksander Kolarov who is still out with a groin problem.
Manchester City starting XI: Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Yaya, Barry, A.Johnson, Silva, Nasri; Aguero
Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kolo, Savic, De Jong, Milner, Balotelli
Stoke City starting XI: Sorensen, Woodgate, Huth, Upson, Wilson, Shotton, Palacios, Whitehead, Jerome, Walters, Jones
Subs: Begovic, Fuller, Diao, Pennant, Delap, Etherington, Arismendi.