Andrea Pirlo has shaken off the injury which kept him out of the MLS Playoffs Semifinals first leg versus Toronto.
The Italian maestro returns to midfield along with Frank Lampard who makes his first start since September 17 when he came off against FC Dallas.
Tommy McNamara comes into an attacking NYCFC lineup as another of the three changes to the XI from the 2-0 first leg defeat in Canada.
Steven Mendoza, Federico Bravo and Mikey Lopez are the three to miss out as Patrick Vieira opts for what appears to be a 4-3-3 formation, with Jack Harrison and McNamara providing the width on either side of David Villa.