There are friendly internationals this week and they have taken eight of City's senior players.
Rob Earnshaw and Darcy Blake (Wales), Kenny Miller, Kevin McNaughton and Don Cowie (Scotland), Joe Mason (Republic of Ireland), Aron Gunnarsson (Iceland) and Dekel Keinan (Israel) are all unavailable to Cardiff who have added three untried youngsters to the squad.
Mamadou Diallo, Joe Ralls and Adedeji Oshilala are Academy trainees who could find themselves on the bench tonight as each team is allowed seven substitutes in the Carling Cup.
So it looks as if Rudy Gestede and Jon Parkin will head City's attack against the League 2 side. Gestede made a huge impact at West Ham, the Frenchman setting up Kenny Miller's injury time winner.
Parkin has played a bit pre season without hitting the net. Tonight could be a great chance for him to muscle his way into scoring oportunities.
Kick off at the Kassam Stadium is at 7:45pm and with Bristol Rovers' home gave with Watford postponed City's game is the only domestic match being played this evening in England.
Cardiff possible:
Marshall, Quinn, Hudson, Gerrard, Naylor, Taylor, Conway, Whittingham, Taiwo, Gestede and Parkin.
Also available Heaton, Gyepes then players like Ibby farrah, Jon Meades and Nat Jarvis. Steve McPhail is still catching up after missing pre season.