Al-Ittihad boss Jens Wissing has thrown Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum straight into the mix against his old club Al-Ettifaq in a mouthwatering Saudi Roshn League encounter.
The German's side make the trip to Dammam today, Tuesday, to face Al-Ettifaq at their own ground in the tenth round of the Saudi Roshn League.
Wissing named Wijnaldum in midfield, teeing up a reunion with the club he represented between 2023 and 2026.
It marks the first time the Dutch midfielder has started a league game for Al-Ittihad, and only his second overall after the recent clash with Shabab Al-Ahli in the AFC Champions League Elite.
At the back came the biggest surprise. Wissing handed Saad Al-Mousa his first start of the season alongside Portugal's Danilo Pereira, the defender finally returning from the injury that had sidelined him since last season.
En-Nesyri had to settle for a place on the bench, with the German instead backing Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena to lead the line.
Al-Ittihad go into the game fifth in the Saudi League on 17 points. Al-Ettifaq sit seventh with 15.
Al-Ittihad's line-up was as follows:
Goalkeeper: Predrag Rajkovic
Defence: Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti - Danilo Pereira - Saad Al-Mousa - Faris Abdi
Midfield: Moukhtar Ali - Richard Rios - Georginio Wijnaldum
Attack: Houssem Aouar - George Ilenikhena - Steven Bergwijn