USA boss Juergen Klinsmann has suggested he will be building his World Cup line-up around a spine of five players.
With just four-and-a-half months until Brazil 2014 kicks off, Klinsmann has little time to put his charges through their paces so will be relying on club form to give him a guide of how his roster is travelling.
One thing he is fairly sure of is some key positions including the goalkeeper, a pair of midfielders and two attackers who has already identified.
Klinsmann has indicated that Everton gloveman Tim Howard, Toronto FC signing Michael Bradley, Besiktas new boy Jermaine Jones, Seattle Sounders' Fulham loanee Clint Dempsey and Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore will be amongst his starting eleven in Brazil this summer.
"To be clear, I think Jozy, once he's keeping his playing rhythm and the quality he has, is our number one centre-forward that we have, and Clint is the player behind him (as the second forward).
"You know, we often talk about the spine of our team, which starts with Timmy and then goes through midfield with Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley, and then Clint and Jozy.
"I think this is something to build around. A lot of players that around these guys prove more and more their qualities, and they push for the starting spot and others push for getting into the roster at the end of the day."
Klinsmann has until May 13 to submit a 30-man roster before narrowing it down to his final 23-man squad on June 2.
The USA take on Germany, Portugal and Ghana in Group G with their first fixture against the Black Stars in Natal on June 16.
