Rest and rotation regularly present problems for Fantasy Premier League managers, particularly around the busy festive schedule.
With that in mind, squads and transfer targets should be assessed to prioritise players who appear almost "untouchable", or at least more likely to be guaranteed starting roles.
While teams such as Manchester City and Southampton have rotated their line-ups regularly, other teamsheets have been more stable.
But with three Premier League matches in eight days or fewer, that seems likely to change.
Fixtures over Gameweeks 19 and 20 are only two days apart for most teams, heightening the risk of absentees in 15-man FPL squads.
However, there are some players who may well be likely to figure in all three fixtures over this period.
Sunderland's Jermain Defoe (£7.8m) is one.
Defoe is one of only three players to score for David Moyes' side this season, and has more Boxing Day goals than any current Premier League player ahead of the Gameweek 18 trip to Old Trafford.
While Moyes may consider resting Defoe for the trip to Burnley in Gameweek 19, or the home encounter against Liverpool two days later, Sunderland's quest for points could mean the striker turns out in both.
Similarly, at Crystal Palace, with Connor Wickham (£5.6m) out through injury, the onus will be on Christian Benteke (£7.7m) to remain an ever-present up front.
Alan Pardew faces a tough decision as to whether to omit Benteke against Arsenal in Gameweek 19 to keep him fresh for the visit of fellow strugglers Swansea City two days later.
Swansea have their own important asset in Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.5m), who has scored or assisted half their goals this season.
Barring injury or suspension, Sigurdsson appears unlikely to miss either the visit to Palace or the home match with AFC Bournemouth two days before.
Hull City's Robert Snodgrass (£5.6m) is another case to consider.
Like Sigurdsson, he has scored or assisted 50% of Hull's goals and will be crucial against Manchester City, Everton and West Bromwich Albion.
Jose Mourinho's Manchester United are another team to to include FPL assets with potentially assured festive starts.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's (£11.4m) close to undroppable status has been discussed by Mourinho leading up to this spell, with the in-form Swede seemingly likely to make three Gameweek starts over Christmas.
Paul Pogba (£8.3m) is another who, having played every minute since his debut in Gameweek 2, would appear to offer a degree of certainty to FPL managers.
There can be no guarantees over this testing period, but by seeking and securing assets who remain central or essential figures for their respective sides, FPL managers can protect themselves from rotation scares.
