It’s a fair question and we’re likely to find out in the final 13 matches of the season, especially if injuries, suspensions and dips in form continue to arrive.
We’ve assessed the chances of those usually in reserve making an impact on a League One promotion push if they are called-up.
Appearances are those made this season. The 11 players featured have started just 33 games between them.
There is no recall clause on Ryan Broom (Burton) and Serhat Tasdemir (Oldham) who are currently out on loan.
Teenage forward Flynn Clarke is out for the season with a hip injury.
1.
DAN GYOLLAI: Position: Goalkeeper. Age: 23. Appearances: 4. The Hungarian youth international suffered a shaky debut in a 3-3 draw at home to Burton in an EFL Trophy tie, but in his three other starts - all in the Trophy - he did pretty well, even though he spoilt a fine display at Cambridge with a late error which delivered a deserved draw to the home side. Gyollai is a good size and is clearly very athletic, but he has no chance of replacing first-choice Christy Pym barring an injury or suspension. That’s not a criticism of the back-up who could be trusted to fill in for a short time, even though his footwork is not in Pym’s class.
2.
NIALL MASON: Position: Defender. Age: 24. Appearances: 20. Mason delivered an outstanding display in the heart of the Posh defence in a 3-0 win over a slick MK Dons side in January and hasn’t started a game since. That shows the strength of the Posh defence this season as Mason is also a solid performer at right-back. Unfortunately for him he is often competing with Nathan Thompson, one of the stars of the Posh season, for a place, hence just the five starts. Mason is technically strong, defends well and can pick a pass. He lacks Thompson’s dash, but he has rarely let Posh down when called upon. He can be expected to cope if called upon.
3.
FRAZER BLAKE-TRACY: Position: Defender. Age: 25. Appearances: 7. After a decent first season in the Football League, this left sided defender has found it much harder this time around. It didn’t help he was injured at the start of the current campaign. He started three League games in a row earlier this season, but hasn’t started since he was run ragged in a 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth at the start of December. Blake-Tracy was man-of-the-match when Posh bowed out of the EFL Trophy at Tranmere and manager Darren Ferguson bigged him up after a recent friendly. Could yet feature and on the left of a back three he'd be fine.
4.
RONNIE EDWARDS: Position: Centre-back. Age: 17. Appearances: 1. This teenager was quite brilliant on his League One debut in a 1-1 draw at MK Dons in December, but has since had awful luck with coronavirus and a nasty thigh injury. He’s due back at the end of March (he doesn’t turn 18 until the 28th) and don’t rule him out of a game or two before the end of the season. It won’t be easy breaking into this Posh defence, but Edwards is mature way beyond his years. He reads the game beautifully and he is terrific in possession. Physically he could struggle, but in the middle of a three he would probably cope.