Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United well prepared for shape-shifting Middlesbrough, Kalvin Phillips and Kiko Casilla's availability in doubt

Ex Whites defender Jonathan Woodgate has gone with three at the back, four at the back and five at the back in league games this season.

On 10 occasions he has played a front three and in 14 other games he went with a pair of strikers.

While 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 have been his joint favourite formations, Boro have also shaped up as a 4-2-3-1, a 3-4-2-1, a 5-3-2, a 5-4-1 and more besides.

Bielsa has noted six different formations in Woodgate’s first season in charge at the Riverside, which is also his first campaign as a manager, but believes Leeds are well prepared for any shape.

“There are teams that always play with the same shape and others that change a lot,” he said.

“They manage six different shapes and manage them very well.

“But we are also working together for 12 months and in thise 12 months we have faced all the different possible shapes so we are ready to adapt to the different shapes.”

Bielsa, whose team predominantly play in a 4-1-4-1 formation, wasn’t able to give a definitive steer on what his starting line-up will be tomorrow evening, because Leeds are monitoring the fitness of two players.

Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla damaged his fingers in Saturday’s win over Reading at Elland Road and defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips hobbled off after taking a kick on his calf.

The availability of both players is dependent on the pain they would have to copy with to play through.

“With both players I am optimistic,” said Bielsa.

“[For Phillips] it’s a kick. Depending if the pain disappears, the same situation as Kiko.

“[Kiko] has a problem but maybe he plays.

“That depends on the level of the pain, but if he can support the level of the pain I think he is going to play.”

Bielsa said Casilla’s fingers were not broken, just swollen, but was unable to clarify exactly when the Spaniard – who is still awaiting the verdict of an FA hearing into allegations of racism – sustained the injury.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are missing Daniel Ayala and Patrick Roberts due to an ankle injury and a torn hamstring respectively.