Both men have indicated they would be uncomfortable in the position of back-up and Hart's newly-acquired England status is at risk if he ends up as City's number two.

Mancini may do without the services of new signings David Silva and Jerome Boateng but still has a wealth of talent to choose from, including Yaya Toure and Aleksander Kolarov, who are set for their debuts.

Team (from): Hart, Given, Zabaleta, Richards, K Toure, Kompany, Boyata, Boateng, Lescott, Kolarov, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Y Toure, De Jong, Vieira, Barry, A Johnson, Silva, Tevez, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Jo.