Corinthians will host Barra-SC on Thursday at 19:30 at Neo Química Arena with a place in the Copa do Brasil round of 16 within reach. After winning the first leg 1-0 in Florianópolis, the holders need only a draw or another victory to move on and keep alive their bid for a fifth title.

Fernando Diniz is expected to use a mixed side, with the club giving priority to Sunday’s trip to Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro. The likely lineup includes Hugo Souza, Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, André, Gustavo Henrique, Fabrizio Angileri, Allan, André, Breno Bidon, Rodrigo Garro, Kaio César and Pedro Raul. The club said the squad focused this week on tactical drills and positioning for attacking and defensive set pieces.

The match carries a direct financial reward as well: if Corinthians advances, it will bank R$ 3 million. That matters for a team trying to move away from the bottom positions in the Brazilian league table and still chasing the status that comes with defending a Copa do Brasil crown.

There is, however, a clear trade-off in the plan. Memphis Depay remains out because he is not yet at full physical condition, and Vitinho, Kayke, Hugo and João Pedro Tchoca are also unavailable and being treated by the medical department. That leaves Diniz with less room to rotate than he might want, even as the club leans toward preserving legs for the league.

Corinthians enters the night as the current champion and with the simplest possible math: hold Barra-SC, and the path to the next round stays open. Lose control of the tie, and Sunday’s league match in Rio will no longer be the only test on the schedule.