Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez os hoping Manchester City are preoccupied with their upcoming Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid.
As the Magpies prepare to host City on Tuesday night, Benitez feels the opposition may have bigger things to worry about than a Premier League clash with a relegation-threatened side.
Newcastle remain 19th on the table but a win over City will give them a great chance of forcing their way out of the bottom three and Benitez has his fingers crossed that things will go the way of his team.
"In the back of your head, you [a player] are thinking the semi-final is massive," said the Spaniard.
"To be in the final and have the opportunity to win the final. So imagine if you pick up an injury or have any problem. So I think the players will be thinking about that, hopefully a lot of them.
"But they are professionals and will try to win. They are in a good position now in the Premier League and they will want to stay high.
"But in the back of their head, for sure, will be the doubt that if they pick up an injury, they cannot play in the semi-final or final."