Tunisia are set to start Evian striker Sabeur Khalifa ahead of more established strikers Issam Jemaa and Sami Allagui in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against Ghana.
Jemaa has been capped more than 50 times by his country and was the team's top scorer in the qualifiers for this tournament with five goals, while Allagui, an international since 2008, features for German Bundesliga side Mainz.
A top team official disclosed that coach Sami Trabelsi will settle for Khalifa to lead the attack in a 4-3-2-1 formation he hopes will beat one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Former Esperance of Tunis forward Khalifa, who made his Tunisia bow in 2010, has made tremendous improvements since his transfer last year to French Ligue 1 outfit Evian and has already scored once at this Nations Cup.
Esperance forward Youssef Msakni, who has netted two goals at the on-going Nations Cup, will play alongside Zouhaier Dhaouadi from Club African of Tunis behind Khalifa.
Skipper Karim Haggui, who was not risked against Gabon due to a booking, will return to partner Aymen Abdennour in the heart of the back four.
Tunisia likely starting XI vs Ghana
Aymen Mathlouthi - Bilel Ifa, Khalil Chammem, Karim Haggui, Aymen Abdennour - Jamel Saihi, Mejdi Traoui, Houcine Ragued - Zouhaier Dhaouadi, Youssef Msakni - Sabeur Khalifa