The absence of striker Sergio Agüero and playmaker David Silva, who were injured during the recent international break, has robbed City of its two most influential attacking players for the derby.

But in Kevin De Bruyne, City have one of the most inform players in the league, proving so far that he's worth the £55 million ($85 million) the club spent to make him its record signing.

Pellegrini even called him the "perfect" signing after De Bruyne scored an injury-time winner against Seville on Wednesday.

De Bruyne has been rotating, with great effect, with Raheem Sterling for central or left-wing roles in City's attack in recent games. He is hard to pick up and his eye for a pass is arguably as good as Silva's.

Pellegrini's biggest call this weekend is whether to recall captain Vincent Kompany, or retain the centre-back partnership of Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala.