Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has asked his players if they want to be the 'tail of the lion or the head of the mouse' before their second clash with Wolves in the space of four days.
The Magpies will look to make amends in the third round of the EFL Cup against Wanderers at St James' Park on Tuesday night after their six-game winning run was halted in a 2-0 home defeat to the same opposition on Saturday.
Benitez's side was a shadow of the one which had torn QPR apart in a 6-0 win at Loftus Road four days earlier and the former Liverpool boss said: "Sometimes you prefer to be the tail of the lion, or the head of the mouse. That's a Spanish expression.
"When you are in the Premier League and you are at the bottom, you are the tail of the lion and some people are happy being the tail of the lion.
"Some people prefer to be the head of the mouse, you are at the top, you are strong enough and you are there.
"What we want to do is to be sure we are strong enough, to be sure that we can manage the games because teams will come, they will wait and we have to be sure that we know what to do every time, and if we make mistakes, we still carry on because there are a lot of games to play."
Benitez confirmed he will make changes and was waiting to learn whether the club's appeal against midfielder Vurnon Anita's dismissal on Saturday had been successful.
Magpies striker Daryl Murphy could be handed his debut and midfielder Christian Atsu is hoping to start his first game.
Wolves boss Walter Zenga could be tempted to stick with an unchanged side for the first time. Romain Saiss made his debut on Saturday, but summer signings Silvio and Ola John hope to make their first appearances.
Leeds head coach Garry Monk is likely to rest several players for his side's home tie against Blackburn as they chase a third straight win in all competitions.
Striker Chris Wood scored his fifth goal of the season when converting a second-half penalty in Saturday's 2-0 win at Cardiff, but could be one to make way, while skipper Liam Bridcutt (foot) is back in contention.
Blackburn boss Owen Coyle, whose side registered their first win of the season when they beat Rotherham 4-2 on Saturday, has promised to make "eight or nine" changes. On-loan West Ham midfielder Martin Samuelsen is expected to make his first start.
Sam Baldock will return for Brighton's home tie against Reading after missing three games through injury and suspension, while the visitors will be without top goalscorer Garath McCleary following his dismissal in Saturday's 2-1 win at Barnsley.
Brighton are bidding for a third successive win and Reading are looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions.
Preston boss Simon Grayson will ring the changes at Premier League Bournemouth in response to his side's 5-0 defeat at Brentford on Saturday. Defender Marnick Vermijl (hamstring) is definitely out.
Norwich striker Nelson Oliveira is expected to make his debut at Everton after joining from Benfica last month and Nottingham Forest will still be without Thomas Lam, Damien Perquis and Britt Assombalonga as they look to upset Arsenal at the City Ground.
Source: PA-WIRE
