Argentina head into Tuesday's World Cup 2022 Qualifying game against Ecuador without several key players, as first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, centre-backs Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez and attacking duo Mauro Icardi and Lautaro Martinez are all out of the squad.
In the absence of the keeper, veteran Franco Armani may again be deployed between the sticks, although Villarreal's Geronimo Rulli will also be looking for a start.
The loss of Romero and Ajax's Martinez allows space for the experienced duo of Nicolas Otamendi and German Pezzella to again partner up at the heart of a back four, with Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico likely keeping their places either side.
Captain and all-time top scorer Lionel Messi will lead the line, having taken his tally to 81 goals in 159 caps by scoring their third in a 3-0 win over Venezuela last time out.
Without Icardi and Martinez, manager Lionel Scaloni has several decisions to make in the attacking areas around the Paris Saint-Germain talisman, but he is still not short of options, with the likes of Angel Di Maria, Joaquin Correa, Angel Correa and Nicolas Gonzalez all pushing for starts, while Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister was handed a third cap against Venezuela.
Angel Correa has particularly impressed this season, netting 11 goals and contributing five assists in 29 La Liga appearances for an inconsistent Atletico Madrid side, and he could be rewarded with a start on Tuesday.
If so, he will play ahead of teammate Rodrigo De Paul, who should again operate alongside Leandro Paredes at the base of midfield in the absence of Giovani Lo Celso.
Argentina possible starting lineup: Armani; Molina, Pezzella, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes; Gonzalez, Di Maria, A Correa; Messi body check tags ::
