Nico O’Reilly, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic all played no part as they recover from knocks picked up against Ipswich, but speaking on Thursday to preview the match, Maresca said all three were facing late fitness tests.
"Erling (Haaland) is the only one 100 per cent available,” he explained, before adding of Nunes, Kovacic and O’Reilly: “We have a session this afternoon. They can be all available or not. Yesterday they were all improving, and we'll see this afternoon.”
Knock: Nico O’Reilly
PA
It remains to be seen, then, how his team might shape up in the Midlands. Josko Gvardiol started against Athens in O’Reilly’s absence and should keep his place, with Maresca playing down the knock the Croat appeared to pick up late on in that match.
With Nunes injured on the opposite flank, Rayan Ait-Nouri could be in line for a rare start.
Elsewhere, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez will continue to hold down the base of midfield.
There are decisions to be made in the front four, though. Maresca has confirmed Haaland is fit to start and he should do so.
Behind him, Phil Foden may well keep his place in the No10 after his Wednesday night hat-trick, though Rayan Cherki is also due to come back into the side. He could slot into the centre, pushing Foden out left with Iliman Ndiaye taking up the opposite wing.
Man City XI vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Gvardiol, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Fernandez, Anderson; Foden, Cherki, Ndiaye; Haaland
Doubts: O’Reilly, Nunes, Kovacic
Injured: Semenyo
Time and date: 12.30pm BST on Saturday, October 24
Venue: Villa Park
How to watch: TNT Sports 1