Aguero to keep City skipper Kompany
Manchester City will not risk captain Vincent Kompany or striker Sergio Aguero against npower Championship strugglers Barnsley in the FA Cup this weekend.
Defender Kompany has missed the last six games with calf problems while Aguero pulled out of Monday's game at Aston Villa with knee trouble.
Right-backs Maicon and Micah Richards (both knee) remain sidelined for the quarter-final clash at the Etihad Stadium while midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) is once again injured.
Mancini raised expectations at City when he guided them to FA Cup glory in 2011, ending a 35-year trophy drought.
The Italian, who has fielded strong sides in the previous rounds against Watford, Stoke and Leeds, is intent on a repeat victory.
He said: "It is my opinion that for a team like us it is very important to win something every year.
"It is better if it is Premier League or Champions League or Europa League but the FA Cup is important."
Barnsley travel to the Etihad Stadium for the Saturday evening clash as rank outsiders - some bookmakers quote odds as long as 18/1 on a Tykes victory - due to their position in the Championship relegation zone.
Mancini will not be taking the game lightly.
He said: "These games are difficult because they don't have anything to lose and everyone can think it will be easy.
"I have watched Barnsley and it is clear they are not Real Madrid, but these games are strange.
"I don't think many people thought Arsenal could go out in a game against Bradford."
Barnsley midfielder Stephen Dawson could have a late fitness test.
Dawson has missed the last nine matches since damaging ankle ligaments at Ipswich in mid-January and is hoping to prove his fitness in time to feature at the Etihad Stadium.
Manager David Flitcroft has no new injury or suspension problems following the midweek draw at Burnley. On-loan Stoke defender Rory Delap and fellow loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe, from Manchester United, were both unused substitutes at Turf Moor and could return to the starting line-up.
David Flitcroft has described the game as "what dreams are made of".
The Tykes are in the middle of a desperate relegation battle and have slipped back into the bottom three after taking one point from their last three npower Championship matches.
But boss Flitcroft does not see his side's quarter-final clash at the Etihad Stadium as a distraction and has told his players to relish the experience.
"It's the reason why you wake up in a morning," Flitcroft told Press Association Sport. "To try and achieve something different to what you did the day before.
"That's what my philosophy is in life, moving forward, not really looking back.
"I like the future. I like life. Life's experiences, I think that's all you're ever going to be left with when we end up leaving this world.
"So for me it's an incredible opportunity for a group of players to showcase their talents in an incredible stadium.
"It's what dreams are made of for me."
Barnsley booked their last-eight clash with victories over Burnley, Hull and MK Dons in the previous rounds.
Source: PA
