Newcastle United head to another ground they haven't won at yet in Manchester City's City of Manchester Stadium with the same problems hanging over them as usual.
Dogged by injuries, scarred by another early League Cup exit and another possible trophy to win ticked off a long list which started in 1969 when plenty of us weren't even born.
No wins in two visits to the Arsenal and no wins and just one goal in our FOUR visits to Eastlands!
And although Newcastle don't go there in doom and gloom mode, there are plenty of Toon fans disappointed that another trophy opportunity went out of the window against Arsenal reserves.
Especially as plenty of other lesser names made it through to the last 16 and Coventry, Leicester and Blackpool are all rubbing their hands with excitement over who's next in the Carling Cup.
Anyway enough of that, what lies in wait at Manchester City?
Well for a start we go into it without Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi meaning that it's down to Oba Martins to get the goals for us, which isn't a bad thing despite his poor performance on at Arsenal.
Poor in that he failed to convert but at least he got into the positions and any striker not doing that will tell you they are in trouble.
In fact and despite limited chances this term, Martins has scored three and made two with the majority of those games being as a sub so his tally isn't bad.
It's clear that Martins is happy at Newcastle and when it comes to January and the African Nations Cup in Ghana, we'll know exactly just how much we'll miss him.
It's true that there could be a couple of clubs sniffing around the former Inter Milan man come January.
Whether Martins being away for two thirds of January on international duty will actually help Newcastle - in terms of keeping him - remains to be seen.
Indeed tying up a transfer in the middle of a major tournament would hardly be straight forward and as the Nations Cup could end for Martins after the transfer deadline, it may work in the Toon's favour.
But tomorrow he can go a long way to cementing his place in the team between now and Christmas.
If Steve Harper is in the team at the moment on merit for preventing goals will goals in the onion bag from Martins be enough to keep Owen out?
It's all interesting stuff and Owen will probably walk straight back into the team when he's ready.
However, you just get the feeling that the fans have much more of an affinity with Martins and the player certainly seems to be aware of that.
Harper is likely to return to the posts on current form even though Shay Given performed like a hero at Arsenal.
Geremi will be back too but Cacapa will miss out due to, yes you've guessed it, a groin problem!
That means Steven Taylor and David Rozehnal will be back in the heart of defence with Habib Beye on the right of them and Jose Enrique or Charles N'Zogbia at left-back.
City have started life under Sven Goran Eriksson rather well as it happens but disaster never seems more than five minutes away for Newcastle, perhaps a draw would be a great result for Newcastle in this one.
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