In the four games against Crawley, Burton, Blackpool, and Stockport, just two outfield players have started and completed.
Tomoki Iwata, a midfield powerhouse, and Blues captain Krystian Bielik. In just ten days, Bielik and Iwata have played 360 minutes of football before stoppages, while everyone else has been rested and rotated.
Christoph Klarer might also be in this discussion if it weren’t for his ban against Burton Albion. Davies benefited from that suspension, and Klarer was among the few Blues players who didn’t appear fatigued in the New Year’s Day match against Stockport.
In contrast, Bielik committed an unusual mistake in stoppage time that, but for Klarer’s quick thinking, would have given Stockport the victory. In the second half at Edgeley Park, Iwata was also not his typical vivacious, commanding self.
The issue is if Davies is prepared to give Bielik and Iwata a break against Wigan.
When Lincoln visits St Andrew’s for a third-round FA Cup match next Monday, the Blues boss would undoubtedly prefer that his key players fight through another ninety minutes and take a break.
However, during this time and for this reason, Davies did want a strong squad. Marc Leonard is a great substitute for Iwata, and Ethan Laird and Taylor Gardner-Hickman can also play right back in Bielik’s stead.
For the first time this season, Alex Cochrane looked overworked and overstretched before being taken off late in the day at Stockport.
Davies won’t want to rest Cochrane with no natural replacement at left-back following Lee Buchanan’s season-ending injury.
The changes usually occur in the forward areas and if Scott Wright was further along in his rehabilitation, he would be in contention for his first league start.
Other than Fulham loanee Luke Harris and the out-of-favour Ayumu Yokoyama, Davies has limited options to shake things up.
