Javier Garrido is favourite to replace the injured Wayne Bridge at left-back on Sunday as Manchester City visit Fulham.
Bridge is facing a month on the sidelines after undergoing a hernia operation and Garrido is keen to use his absence to stake his own claim for a run in the first-team.
City boss Roberto Mancini is not short of options to take over from Bridge with Sylvinho and Pablo Zabaleta also in contention.
Garrido got his opportunity the last time the former Chelsea player was out of action and the Spaniard is hoping he will be the man to benefit again.
He said: "In the last few games we've seen other players slotting in at left-back when necessary, but hopefully I will get my chance to be involved in the team.
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I didn't play for a while when Mark Hughes was here, but when Roberto took charge he gave me an opportunity almost straight away.
"That gave me a lot of confidence and I think that showed through in my performances."
Meanwhile, Mancini is also without Emmanuel Adebayor through suspension and Martin Petrov, who has a knee injury.