Crystal Palace is monitoring the fitness of midfielder Adam Wharton, who will be evaluated before kickoff after sitting out last weekend's victory against Tottenham Hotspur due to a twisted ankle. Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure remain unavailable with ongoing knee injuries.

Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma started in central midfield during Wharton's absence and could retain their spots, while Daichi Kamada offers another midfield option for selection.

In-form player Eberechi Eze has netted five goals in his last four games and has contributed to four goals across as many FA Cup matches (three goals, one assist). The England international is expected to feature in an advanced role alongside Ismaila Sarr, who scored twice in Crystal Palace's semi-final win over Aston Villa.

Eddie Nketiah, a 2020 FA Cup winner with Arsenal, is pushing for a starting spot after being involved in a goal in each of his last three FA Cup outings (two goals, one assist). However, 17-goal striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is likely to lead the attack, with manager Oliver Glasner expected to field an unchanged defensive line in front of former Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

For Manchester City, the team will continue to miss Rodri (ACL and fitness issues), Nathan Ake (foot), Oscar Bobb (hamstring), and John Stones (thigh), though the first three are progressing in their training programs.

Manager Pep Guardiola may consider bringing back Nico O'Reilly and Matheus Nunes as temporary full-backs. O'Reilly has emerged as a standout performer in the FA Cup for City, with three goals and two assists in five appearances—only Exeter City's Josh Magennis (six contributions) has been involved in more goals in the competition this season.

Kevin De Bruyne, with an impressive FA Cup record, is set to start in his fourth and final FA Cup final for Manchester City; the Belgian has contributed to four goals in his previous three finals (one goal, three assists). Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Nico Gonzalez will compete for midfield spots alongside De Bruyne.

Following difficulties in creating chances from the wings against Southampton, Phil Foden and James McAtee risk being benched in favor of Jeremy Doku and Omar Marmoush, but Erling Haaland is expected to lead the line. City's top scorer with 30 goals in 41 matches this season has tallied six goals in four games against Crystal Palace, though he has yet to score in any of his five Wembley appearances for the club, including three in the FA Cup.

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Kovacic, Bernardo; Doku, De Bruyne, Marmoush; Haaland