Manchester City vs. Sheffield Wednesday: How City Should Line Up in FA Cup

The Football Association is joking, right?

Manchester City welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the Etihad for the second time this season for a third-round FA Cup match this weekend.

Sheffield Wednesday can be forgiven for not wanting to talk much about what happened the last time they came to the Etihad.

City beat the Owls 7-0 in a League Cup match in September. The touchdown was obnoxious; the extra point was just mean.

The Owls' season in the Championship is proceeding without real distinction. They have won more than they have lost, barely, but what they are really good at is playing to draws. Sheffield Wednesday have 10 of those in the Championship this season in 24 matches played.

From a competitive standpoint, Sheffield Wednesday want to win this match with City. From a business standpoint, though, what Sheffield Wednesday could really use is one of those draws they are so good at earning.

A replay with City at Hillsborough Stadium would be one of those monetary windfalls that Championship clubs live and die by. You could argue that the Owls would be better off drawing with City at the Etihad and then losing the replay than they would beating City and losing a fourth-round match on the road.

As for City, the Sky Blues can be counted on to field a very competitive side even though this cup competition does not carry the importance of their Premier League and Champions League quests.

Doubters can look to City manager Manuel Pellegrini's decision to play David Silva and other stars in City's League Cup loss to Newcastle United, which not only embarrassed City but cost them Silva's services for a month-and-a-half.

Pellegrini would do well not to risk too many of his elite players against the Owls. City's schedule in the coming weeks features matches that could define their season, including impending Premier League encounters with Arsenal at the Etihad and with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Particularly, City would do well to leave striker Stevan Jovetic on the bench. The Montenegrin scored a beautiful goal against Sunderland on New Year's Day and should figure significantly in Pellegrini's plans going forward if he stays healthy.

City piled goals on West Bromwich Albion and Burnley without a true striker. They should not need one against Sheffield Wednesday, either.

The only argument against this position is City's recent inability to deal with prosperity.

Against both Burnley and Sunderland at the Etihad in their last two Premier League matches, City blew two-goal second-half leads. Against Sunderland, City rescued their position. Against Burnley, crucial points were dropped.

Given their recent flimsiness from a dominant position, City should probably look to hang another seven-spot on Sheffield Wednesday and eliminate any nervy moments.

City's projected XI against Sheffield Wednesday: Willy Caballero; Aleksandar Kolarov, Matija Nastasic, Dedryck Boyata, Bacary Sagna; Jesus Navas, Fernando, Fernandinho, Samir Nasri, Scott Sinclair; James Milner.