Ange Postecoglou is leaning toward two changes to Al-Nassr's side for Monday's trip to Pakhtakor, with Abdulelah Al-Amri expected to come in at the heart of the defence. The move would alter a team that beat Al-Khaleej 5-3 on Thursday and give Al-Nassr a fresh look for the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite.
The timing matters because Al-Nassr go into Pakhtakor Vs Al Nassr sitting ninth in the West group on 3 points, with one win and one defeat already on the board. That puts more weight on each selection call, especially with a postponed clash against Al-Wasl still to come and a run of matches that has forced the coach to manage minutes carefully.
One of those calls has already been made once this week. Postecoglou paired Mohamed Simakan with Inigo Martinez against Al-Khaleej, while Abdulelah Al-Amri was out of the starting line-up, and Samu Costa returned after his suspension ended. Costa had missed the Al-Khaleej match after a booking against Al-Faisaly in the 11th round tipped him over the yellow-card threshold, so his return gives Al-Nassr another option in a squad that has been under strain from travel and fixtures.
That same congestion explains why Cristiano Ronaldo, Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan were rested for the previous match. But the one detail that still hangs over Monday is whether Ronaldo will play against Pakhtakor at all. With the club managing rotation and the game arriving so quickly after Thursday's league win, the answer may be the most closely watched part of the lineup until it is confirmed on match day.
For now, the pattern is clear: Postecoglou is not overhauling Al-Nassr, only adjusting it. Two changes point to caution rather than a gamble, and that approach may be enough if the side can turn the trip to Uzbekistan into the result it needs.
