Real Madrid takes on Real Sociedad in Anoeta on Friday.
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make rotations across his line up when Los Blancos face Real Sociedad in La Liga on Friday.
At a pre-match press conference where the Italian praised Xavi Hernandez's decision to stay at bitter rivals FC Barcelona, and also picked his Ballon d'Or winner, Ancelotti said that the players are "looking forward to the game".
"We are seven points away from mathematically having the league. [It will be a] tough game, as always against La Real," he predicted.
Though the pair missed training, Ancelotti insisted that Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo would travel to San Sebastian while Ferland Mendy stayed behind.
A few hours later, however, the published squad list missed Mendy's name as expected yet also failed to boast that of Ancelotti's top scorer Bellingham.
On Friday, though, it was later amended to include the Englishman but not Rodrygo.
Madrid's Champions League semifinal first leg with Bayern Munich on Tuesday is a heavily influential factor and has inspired a series of rotations.
Kepa starts in goal, but so does Eder Militao at center back for the first time since the opening day of the season when he pulled up with an ACL tear in the San Mames ground of La Real's bitter Basque rivals Athletic Club.
Captain Nacho partners the Brazilian, while Fran Garcia comes in for Mendy and Dani Carvajal is the right back.
In midfield, Luka Modric gets his second consecutive nod following on from El Clasico and teams up with Aurelien Tchouameni in a double pivot.
Arda Guler finally receives his maiden La Liga start, and together with Dani Caballos, they occupy Bellingham and Fede Valverde's spots.
Up front, it is Joselu and Brahim that replace Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, who was cut after coming down with flu.
Regardless of the 11 players he picks, Ancelotti says that his men have "to fight and fight" for the La Liga title until it is no longer mathematically possible for others to snatch it away.
"The dynamic is very good, it also helps to prepare for the Champions League matches. We have to try to compete and get the most out of it. Tomorrow we have to compete, fight and try to win," he demanded of Friday's game.
