Wolves’ promotion challenge is increasingly becoming a 20-man operation rather than an 11-man mission.
And for César Peixoto, that could prove to be one of the biggest differences between a side capable of challenging for the Premier League and one that actually gets there.
The Wolves head coach believes his squad is now better equipped to hurt opponents from the substitutes’ bench, with greater competition for places transforming the options at his disposal.
And the evidence is beginning to stack up.
Wolves’ remarkable turnaround at Bristol City provided perhaps the clearest example yet of what a stronger bench can deliver.
Trailing 1-0 with eight minutes of normal time remaining, Wolves looked destined for a damaging defeat before 19-year-old Newcastle loanee Sean Neave produced two close-range finishes in the 82nd and 89th minutes to turn the contest on its head.
Seven minutes. Two goals. Three points.
It was a dramatic illustration of the difference one substitute can make, and the kind of intervention that could prove priceless over a 46-game Championship campaign.
But Neave is far from the only example of Wolves finding a match-winner among their replacements.
Tawanda Chirewa has also stepped off the bench to score a winning goal this season, providing another example of Peixoto’s ability to change the outcome of matches without relying exclusively on his starting XI.
Different players, different circumstances, but the same result – decisive contributions from those who began the afternoon watching from the sidelines.
And Peixoto believes that growing strength in reserve could become one of Wolves’ greatest assets in their pursuit of promotion.
“We won a lot of games from the bench. It’s very important for us and now we have more options,” Peixoto said.
“It’s more difficult for the opposing teams to play against us because we are stronger with more options.”
The numbers from Ashton Gate alone make a compelling argument. Neave scored twice in the final nine minutes of normal time, turning zero points into three and providing Wolves with the sort of late-game threat that promotion contenders need.
But the importance of squad depth goes beyond the goals themselves.
Opposition defenders who have spent an hour dealing with Adam Armstrong can suddenly find themselves facing a different type of attacking challenge.
Rafiki Said has shown flashes of real danger, while Wolves have other wide options capable of changing the tempo and shape of an attack.
Peixoto now has four wingers and six midfielders at his disposal, numbers that provide considerably more flexibility when deciding how to approach matches.
And the Portuguese believes increased competition is raising standards throughout the group.
“I want two players per position to fight each other,” he explained.
“If we are competitive inside of our team, we’re going to be competitive in the games against the opposite team for sure.”
That is the mentality Peixoto is attempting to establish.
Nobody should feel comfortable. Nobody should believe their starting position is guaranteed. And nobody should consider being named among the substitutes a sign that they cannot influence the outcome.
There is another significant advantage, too.
Over the course of a relentless Championship campaign, freshness becomes almost as important as quality. With fixtures arriving thick and fast, the ability to rotate without significantly weakening the side could prove crucial.
“We have a lot of games now. I want to rotate some positions. It’s important to recover some players physically,” Peixoto added.
“From the starting line-up, from the bench, everyone has minutes because I believe in all the players.”
Wolves entered the international break unbeaten in six Championship matches, with the late victory at Bristol City arguably the most significant demonstration of their growing resilience.
And while performances have not always convinced, their ability to find ways of picking up points has been encouraging.
There will inevitably be occasions when the opposition frustrates them, when their attacking play lacks imagination and when the starting XI simply cannot find a breakthrough.
That is when players such as Neave and Chirewa become particularly valuable.
In a division where promotion can be decided by the finest of margins, one goal from a substitute can be worth considerably more than three points in the bigger picture.
It can change momentum, build belief and transform the mood around a club.
Peixoto wanted two players competing for every position, and he now believes he has the options to make that ambition a reality.
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The challenge is ensuring those options continue to deliver when called upon.
Because as Wolves attempt to secure an immediate return to the Premier League, their strongest XI might not always be the one that starts the match.
It could be the one that finishes it.