City have already qualified for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup and while Hughes admits it would be a boost to top Group A, he is mindful that some of his star names are in need of a rest.
The player of the season so far, Stephen Ireland, is likely to be rested along with Shaun Wright-Phillips and possibly Vincent Kompany as Hughes seeks to keep both minds and legs fresh for the trip to bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion on Sunday lunchtime.
Richard Dunne will also be missing after his wife gave birth to a son last night and Brazilian Jo has been confined to his sick bed and not travelled with the squad.
With Benjani out for at least a month with a hamstring strain, Hughes must choose between Felipe Caicedo, Ched Evans and Darius Vassell for his strikeforce against Racing in the final Group A contest.
Impact
Teenager Evans has caught the eye of the manager several times and could be the main beneficiary of the absenteeism.
"Everybody who has come over and is fit and well is up for selection," said Hughes. "I think Ched has done well this year and has had an impact. Having been out on loan last year at Norwich he has progressed and is very much part of the first- team squad.
"When he gets the chance he is always striving to make an impression, he's wholehearted and wants to make a name for himself. He certainly has an impact in a physical sense, and he has done well for us."
He could be the man to try and disrupt the defensive poise of a Racing Santander side that needs to win to progress.
City need only match whatever FC Twente achieve in Paris against PSG to head the standings before tomorrow's draw for the knockout stages.
"We're mindful of the fact we have a lot of games coming up and we've qualified as well," said Hughes, further hinting at changes. "We've brought everybody with us who is fit and able and I will pick a team that I expect to win the game. A lot of our key players have shouldered a lot of the workload of late. We haven't been able to give them much of a rest so we may look at that.
"I will take into account the period that we are going into. Christmas and New Year puts a big demand on players and a lot of our shining lights have played virtually all the games this season.
"The prize really as far as tonight is concerned is to avoid the Champions League teams. But if you look at all the groups, the team that finishes third will be a strong side because of the quality of the groups, even before the CL teams drop in.
"When you're involved in the UEFA Cup there are a lot of games, and there's travelling coming back and all the rest of it. But once you're out of the competition there is a huge space there. It's not a nice feeling so we want to stay in as long as we can."
Changes
Hughes stresses that he is not overly worried about the league position in which City find themselves with just goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three.
"Ideally we would have liked to have more points than we have, that goes without saying," he said. "But we're working hard to change that. There are a lot of changes going on at the club which will help it in the long run. But first and foremost we have to make sure we get it right on the pitch. That's our aim.
"We've produced football which has been good, but we haven't done it on a regular basis. What we are looking for is a consistent level of performance and we have struggled in that respect.
"Defensively I think we've been better recently although we haven't picked up enough points.
"A lot of the stuff we have produced has been good, but we need more points on the board."
The Blues have been excellent travellers in their last two UEFA Cup campaigns, having played seven times on the road winning six and drawing the other and will look to stretch that run to eight.
"I think we have coped really well in European games, what it shows is how strong a league the Premier League is," Hughes went on.
"On occasions we have faced lesser opposition than in the Premier League, and at times our style suits European football. We have good technical players. In the Premier League there's more of an emphasis on power and pace, and at times we've needed to better in that respect.
"Overall we have been pleased with what we've done in Europe so far.
"The key thing when we started all that time ago in the Faroes was to progress into the group stages, so then anything from there is a bonus. What we are looking for now is a performance that will put is in good heart for Sunday."
Hughes has been further heartened this week by the noises coming from the boardroom where patience is in plentiful supply.
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Its goals goals goals if these two are heading our attack!
He wants to win the group but is resting all the big names mmm it must be tough playing 90 minutes twice a week. Resting players in Europe maybe thats a sign of how good we are.
Apparently Racing Santander defenders have been up all night studying the biggest selling comedy dvd of the year. "Premier League top strikers-2008". Its still available at Woolworths until the end of the month. Hopefully the same time as Darius Vassell and Felipe Caceido!
Finally some sense from Hughes, guys like SWP, Kompany and Ireland need a break.
I dont care if we lose this game, it means nothing. Whether we draw a CL reject or another side in the next round is moot if we are serious about winning it. Good teams back themselves (like Villa did last night who fielded a youth side, and you can tell O'Neill is confident whoever they draw next), average teams rely on the luck of the draw.
All eyes on Sunday at the Hawthorns.
I'm out in town tonight on a work's do - so I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for Jo and his sick bed!
Still it will be an excuse if we lose tonight as expected but the WBA game WOW MH is treating it like an FA Cup final and Cor BLIMEY he'll look silly if we lose at the Hawthorns.Does any City fan honestly believe the work ethic will increase alone this weekend? "give me more time" three more days perhaps because another defeat on Sunday must signal the end of Hughes reign at Eastlands even a draw wont appease most supporters thats the stark reality of it facing the ex RAG!
If Hughes wants to rest his squad then he should do-- ask Jim Cassell to bring his lads in and we will all see a massive change in attitude and effort with Jim on the line by the way not MH....
Red Ted - you're very boring and very transparent (to most at least!)
I`d like to see Caciedo get a start. Jury`s still out for me whether Caciedo has the savvy to get to grips with the prem, although physically he could be awesome. Hughesy has had some time to work with the lad now, and i`m interested to see the improvements. This gives us a perfect opportunity to let some lads gain experience of travelling away, and the different tempo and tactics they could face. Christmas is crazy time in the prem, and we`ve done really well to give ourselves this moments breathing space. Pressure`s off. Good City win. CTID
It would be nice to go through as group leaders, but points on Sunday are marginally more important. Tonights Line up: Schmeiks, Logan, Ned, TBH, Ball. Vassell, Fernandez, Elano, Garrido. Ched and unfortunately Caicedo. We are already through, we need a rested team to win on Sunday to keep the Media driven Foamers at bay.
With all his Guile, composure, Flair, and his eye for the onion bag. I can see a hat trick tonight for....
....Darius!! (ok maybe not lol)
Do we have enough 'fit' players from our over crowded physio room to be able to rest anyone???
This is an ideal opportunity for Evans, Caceido etc to show whether they are good enough to be here after Feb 1st. They should play out of their skins.
With Fernandes in the middle it should be like shooting fish in a barrel for Santander tonight. I wholly agree with resting some players but you have to try and win it by employing tactics to suit the players....something Hughes has managed to avoid doing for the vast majority of games so far this season.
ted knott
Thanks for cheering me up again. I bet it's going to be merry in droylesden this Christmas.
Mr Ted Knott of Droylsden, you make scrooge sound like god!.
Negative Negative Negative all the time!,
We all know results have not been good, but what use will constantly changing the manager do?, If we got rid of Hughes now who would we get straight away?. The club has a masterplan & Hughes is part of it, so get use to it.
For god's sake get behind the team, Hughes will sort it out, judge him in May not now.
I'm going to buy you a book of positive thinking and blue heaven in paperback for christmas, cheer up man!!!!!!!!!
Ted Knott obviously does'nt like Hughes.At the end of last season it was a foregone conclusion that this season would be tough with the same squad.One new player was never going to be enough.A couple can go,and a few will come in,hopefully adding some much needed muscle. Wait and see.
Evans,Caicedo,and the man himself Vassell.A sense a goal fest,don't you?
Short sighted and ruthless as ever Knott-ted. Par for the course.
My only gripe is that you seem to have taken the mantle as representing a majority opinion?
Anybody know if it's on telly ? - anywhere ?
From the reaches of the el Sardinero, come on city, good luck tonight lads, its a bit bloody brisk here, never mind at the big house..
TED KNOTT
You're so negative, why do you bother getting up in the morning, sounds like you're looking forward to Sparky getting sacked. I for one would rather you moaners go and support another team.
COME ON CITY !!!
Ted Knott, who do you support. Do you ever say something positive?. I have not seen one note of encouragement to my team from you. Perhaps you can enlighten us when you last said something positive. Could you also confirm to us all who you actually support?
Glad that MH has decided on resting some players for spain tonight.
We will be up for the scrap at week-end,3 points me thinks. Ted snot,You are the carbuncle on the backside of Humanity.
CTID
ted knott
if i remember right you were happy with his appointment and said that the club should now go for stability and now you are slagging our manager and stating he should go if we don't beat wba, at least he is an ex rag and not a current one like you sound
Mark Hughes could probably have played himself in this game rather than playing Caicedo !
If he shows his usual level of control and awareness, it will be like starting the game with 10 men.
God knows what SVE ever saw in him.
Hawthorns over years as not been a lucky ground for City