Either way, the Payne brothers have quickly become two of the most interesting characters on "Cobra Kai," and it should be interesting to see how the show continues their story. I really hope he's backand ends up being initiated by beating Kyler into exile. Especially if Terry Silver is making Cobra Kai an empire. Johnny and Daniel spend the evening at a hockey game. Season 5 will likely focus on Miguel's quest to find his father and the aftermath of Robby's departure from Cobra Kai a move that may be accompanied by immense regret and guilt. He is Robby Keene's former bully in juvenile detention. He had much more of a presence than the ones I mentioned above. He would tear threw Miyagi Do/Eagle Fang as if they were tin foil. Thank you for watchin. Knowing this show, however, anything is possible. Unlike Kyler, he didnt need his buddies covering his ass to put up a good fight being unskilled. Of course, there's no guarantee that it'll be so easy this time. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. So I came across an article that my friend told me about that ranked the Cobra Kai fighters. That leaves a lot of exciting opportunities on the table for future seasons, of which there may be quite a few. Thank you for your response! The series is a follow-up to theKarate Kid franchise, which began in 1984 and ran for four films and a remake. That's why "Cobra Kai" needs to give Demetri a proper fight against Kyler (Joe Seo), the bully who has tormented him for years. | Kenny tells Robby that Shawn has to spend an extra month at juvenile hall for spitting at a guard. Nicholas Raymond is a staff movies & TV features writer for Screen Rant. It could be revealed that after their fight, Robby or Shawn left the other with a way of getting in touch. Cobra Kai Set Up A Perfect New Student For Kreese In Season 4, story that Robby (Tanner Buchanan) went through in season 3, Cobra Kai: Where Stingray Is In Season 3 (& How He Could Return), Cobra Kai: All 37 Karate Kid Easter Egg & References In Season 3, All 23 Rick And Morty Characters Voiced By Dan Harmon, Picard Season 3 Easter Egg Raises A Big Sisko DS9 Question, What Grogu Saw In Hyperspace Is Huge For Star Wars' Future. Martin Kove returns toCobra Kaito portray the same villainous character heportrayed originally in theKarate Kidtrilogy. 106K subscribers in the cobrakai community. Hopefully, both will find balance in the end, but likely not before a proper fight takes place. After the dojo dissolved, she enrolled at Topanga Karate, which was later co-opted by Cobra Kai. His favorite actors are Tyrone Power and Eleanor Parker. Weirdly, I found him more likable than Hawk and Tory. Bullying and hurting people in prison. "Cobra Kai" is largely a show about conquering your own demons, and Demetri deserves a chance to conquer his. Now so far, the main bullies before him were Kyler, Hawk, and Tory. Julie Pierce may never appear in "Cobra Kai." Demetri may not win the title, but he scores some impressive victories before he gets knocked out. Official Sites Inmate However, he noted that it would be an interesting storyline for Robby and Shawn to team up. But when all that is done, they need to have another fight: a proper and fair one, not out of animosity, but in the true spirit of healthy competition. Fear does not exist in this dojo. Although Kove relishes the evil role and clearly has a fun time portraying Kreese, as he'scertainly a terrifying and powerful character just from his acting alone, his height and being the tallest main character certainly helps him be even more intimidating. William Zabka stars in Cobra Kai as Johnny Lawrence, over 30 years after portraying the character in the first Karate Kid movie and the beginning scenes of the second movie. Like Julie Pierce, Mike Barnes (played by SeanKanan in 1989's "The Karate Kid Part III") has yet to appear in "Cobra Kai"; it feels increasingly likely that he'll show up soon. Tanner Buchanan portrays Robby Keene, Johnny Lawrence's son, onCobra Kaiand the character also has a good balance of similarities to both Johnny and Daniel. He stated that while Kyler may be a good wrestler on the West Valley High School team, Shawn has an advantage as he seemingly outweighs him. The loss of Hawk (Jacob Bertrand), who defected to Eagle Fang at the end of season 3, will naturally make him even more motivated to find new, capable students. Margaret Spencer | Milos Dadok, The Next Karate Kid In the juvenile detention center, Shawn eventually sets his sights on Robby after he defends an inmate, later mocking his relationship problems with Sam and Johnny, taking his pillow, ripping his book apart, and unplugging a computer as well as beating up Robby only with the help of two other guys. | Then there'd be a real threat for MD and EF. PerDeadline,Cobra Kai season 5 has just cast made some major cast decisions. In addition to upgradingDallas Dupree Young, who plays Shawn Payne's younger brother Kenny, to series regular,the show hasadded Alicia Hannah-Kim as a brand new character. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. During a January interview with the Cobra Kai Kompanion podcast, Okea Eme-Akwari weighed in on if his character will join Kreeses dojo. For all the action-packed fights that have already taken place in "Cobra Kai," there are many more potential matchups and long-awaited rematches yet to take place. Cobra Kai The two characters have been paralleled since the start of the show, and they've now both trained in Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai styles of karate. I doubt the writers have them win a 3rd. Played by Okea Eme-Akwari, Shawn could come back into play when the Netflix series returns for its fourth season, given the show spent some time setting up his relationship with Robby. Filming & Production An English and Criminal Justice major from Indiana University she's excited to continue her writing journey! Shawn Payne is a recurring antagonist in Cobra Kai. Cobra Kai Season 5 Casts New Sensei Working With Terry Silver, Cobra Kais Season 5 Rivalry Risks Repeating The Shows Biggest Flaw, Cobra Kai Season 5 Is Already Fixing Miguel's Biggest S4 Problem, Young Sheldon Has No Excuse For Failing Missy After Paige's Return, Happy Days' Original Title Would've Killed The Classic Show, Picard Season 3 Easter Egg Raises A Big Sisko DS9 Question. This is a place for discussing all things related to the Netflix (previously YouTube Premium) series Cobra Kai, the world of The Karate Kid and its sequels (even the Swank one). Saying that Demetri (Gianni DiCenzo) has come a long way in "Cobra Kai" would be a dramatic understatement. Theshow, which originally premiered on YouTube Red before being picked up by Netflix for seasons 3 and 4, follows a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) reopening the Cobra Kai dojo and accidentally reigniting the rivalry between himself and former All Valley karate championDaniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). While serving time, he is harassed by a fellow inmate, Shawn Payne (Okea Eme-Akwari). Because of the danger posed by Terry Silver, Daniel calls in a little backup in the final scene of "Cobra Kai" Season 4 his old rival and Miyagi-Do compatriot, Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto). Make no mistake, however: the Terry Silver of "Cobra Kai" is still a villain, and there are flashes of his former self sprinkled throughout Season 4. Hopefully, the show's future seasons will see them reconcile and continue forward as friendly rivals out to prove once and for all who's the best. Physical StrengthFighting Skills Actor Robert Garrison, who played Tommy in 'The Karate Kid,' dead at 59 Tribeca TV lineup includes 'Trayvon Martin Story,' 'Cobra Kai' 'Rocky,' 'Karate Kid' director John G . He is the son of Johnny Lawrence and the former student of Daniel LaRusso. There, Johnny intentionally goads a player in the penalty box into picking a fight with Daniel, who appears to successfully de-escalate the situation. Hopefully, "Cobra Kai" will deliver a proper duel between the two men, as Silver seems on a trajectory to possibly become the main series antagonist. In addition to upgrading Dallas Dupree Young to series regular, Cobra Kai season 5 will be adding Alicia Hannah-Kim as a South Korean sensei. Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!! She portrays Kumiko in The Karate Kid Part II. Cobra Kai: The 10 Main Actors, Ranked From Tallest To Shortest, Cobra Kai: 10 Behind The Scenes Facts About The Show So Far, the cool and aloof, yet still complicated, Hawk, Cobra Kai: 10 Best Fight Scenes In Season 3, Sam LaRusso mightbe perceived asall hero on the surface, she's much more complicated and has made her fair share of mistakes, Cobra Kai: 10 Best Friendships In Season 3. Hi. It would be silly. Here are some "Cobra Kai" fights fans want to see happen, how they could come about, and who would win. factstime . In season 3, episode 5, Robby attacks his adversary and his friends in the common area. Welcome to Cobra Kai! He used to be Roby Keene's bully in juvenile detention but became Robby's friend afterward. Why does every character need to learn karate? To be honest, he's going to need the extra push. If it's not listed here, then nobody involved with that production has made any appearances anywhere. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. It's a treat whenever "Cobra Kai" lets the senseis fight, and there's no way a battle between Kreese and Chozen would disappoint. This is a place for discussing all things related to the Netflix (previously YouTube Premium) series Cobra Kai, the world of The Karate Kid and its sequels (even the Swank one). Maybe with that foundation, Johnny can finally open his mind to a defensive style of karate and grow as a result. Shawn Payne, played by Okea Eme-Akwari, is obviously older than Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young) because he was Kenny's older brother. Buchanan is on the shorter side of the main actorsand the height difference is clear when he stands against his rivals like Miguel and even his father, Johnny. As his older brother and a friend of Robby, Shawn would likely want to keep his brother from getting mixed up with bad people like Kreese and Silver. At this point, it's unclear whether Anthony or Kenny will end up being the hero. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. During this "what if" we're going to change the events of Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid, to: What if Shawn joined Cobra Kai in season 1? And if he competes in the All Valley, we know exactly what he will make his opponents experience: PAIN!!! Pain does not exist in this dojo. He has a degree in journalism from the University of Montevallo, and is the author of the psychological thriller and time travel novel, "A Man Against the World." In an interesting twist, his main bully is none other than Anthony LaRusso (Griffin Santopietro), Sam's brother and Daniel's son. Cobra Kaihas atalented cast full of great actors ranging in both age andheight, as the show focuses on both the original characters fromThe Karate Kidfranchisewhile also introducing their children and other children involved in the dojos that Johnny and Daniel bring back to the valley. Kenny is a shoe-in for Shawn to join Cobra Kai. He also reveals that Shawn was detained after assaulting a former friend who stole from their parents and attempted to attack him at home. Cobra Kai has won 2 all valleys in a row . Ralph Macchioreturns as the karate kid,Daniel LaRusso, reviving the role for Cobra Kaithat he's arguably best known for in his career. Seeing Barnes return in "Cobra Kai" would set up a potential rematch between him and Daniel, which could be an exciting proposition for longtime fans of the franchise. Hawk doesn't need the height to be intimidating, as he has an attitude he can turn on when he wants to and has fantastic skills as a fighter. Eli 'Hawk' Moskowitz / Hawk / Eli Moskowitz / Eagle Fang Student / Eagle Fang student / Cobra Kai Student, supervising sound editorSupervising Sound Editor, Sharonville Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, USA, Monroeville Convention Center, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, USA, Triple Crown Inn Plantside Drive Jeffersontown Kentucky United States, Delta Hotels Baltimore Hunt Valley Shawan Road Hunt Valley Maryland United States, Hilton Peachtree City Atlanta Hotel Conference Center Peachtree City Georgia USA, Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas, USA, Mohegan Sun Hotel, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA, Comic Con Revolution Ontario California. Robby could remember how strong Shawn was, and point Kreese in his direction. By the time the All-Valley Tournament rolls around in Season 4, however, he's a competent fighter with a genuine desire to compete. Silver has been a longtime antagonist in the franchise, originally the head ofDynatox Industries, a toxic waste disposal company that was poisoning the environment. Yeah good point, I'm saying this because Tory & Robby will probably leave Cobra Kai, so they'll probably need a number 1 fighter, I can't see Kyler being that. However, the player and several of his teammates angrily confront Daniel after the game and insult his wife. So that got me thinking of how to rank Shawn. If you are going to edit a lot, then make yourself a user and login. He was a good character but him joining Cobra Kai, transferring to that hs just to bully some kids doesn't make much sense. I mean, he's already big, strong, tall, and intimidating, but if he joins Cobra Kai? With alliances constantly shifting, it's hard to tell which allies might suddenly become enemies. kenny can be the face of cobra kai with his brother. This is still the "Karate Kid" universe, after all, and as such, it's bound to have its fair share of martial arts smackdowns. How are we supposed to take Kyler seriously anymore? Thomas Ian Griffith's original performance as the character in "The Karate Kid Part III" was a campy, unhinged spectacle of ludicrous proportions something "Cobra Kai" none-too-subtly attributes to the character's excessive use of cocaine. Its not clear why Shawn was locked up in juvenile prison, but its possible that hell be released early in season 4. Everything about him screams "one and done" character, and after Robby dealt with him, the last thing on Robby's mind is the idea that this prick is the kind of person who would take to the kind of karate training that Kreese provides. Kreese adds that their whole style is reactive so they have counter moves and they can use Cobra Kai to set traps. Hawk takes Kyler down with impressive skill in Season 4, and it would be symbolically satisfying if Demetri got the same shot. Ikr, imagine him dominating Robby, Hawk and Miguel (maybe). Chozen Toguchi | Sato Toguchi | Toshio & Taro | John Kreese, The Karate Kid Part III He may have shown greater aggression and wilder behavior overall, but he was never truly the one calling the shots that is, until the end of "Cobra Kai" Season 4. YouTube Okea Eme-Akwari plays Shawn in "Cobra Kai." During the third season of " Cobra Kai ," Johnny Lawrence's (William Zabka) son Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan) is taken to the Sylmar. The Terry Silver who returns in Season 4 of the Netflix series is far more grounded. The appeal here is in seeing two characters who genuinely love each other go head-to-head; there isn't enough of that in "Cobra Kai," and it would be nice to see it play out. Zabka does a fantastic job getting back into the role and building on the character in the series and as the second tallest actor in the series, he tends to tower over the other characters on the show. Hannah-Kim is an Australianactor who has been working in television since the early 2000s, including the 2008 adaptation of the Best Picture-winning filmCrash. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Although Sam LaRusso mightbe perceived asall hero on the surface, she's much more complicated and has made her fair share of mistakes, just like every other character on the show. Just being a great team and having a kickass time. Shawn Payne is a recurring antagonist in Cobra Kai. Im really looking forward to Shawns return. The younger brother of Shawn Payne, who Robby meets in juvie in Season 3, Kenny (Dallas Young) gets ruthlessly bullied from the start of 8th grade year. Cobra Kai Character Kumiko Tamlyn Tomita (born January 27, 1966 in Okinawa) is a Japanese-American actress and singer. Full Name Shawn was sentenced for attacking a former friend to defend his younger sibling Kenny. No thanks. Bully Robby Keene during his time in prison (succeeded for a time, formerly).Make peace with Robby Keene (succeeded) .Help his younger brother Kenny overcome his bullies by making him train with Robby Keene (succeeded) Although arent these kids pushing 18 next year? That means that in the near future, a fight between Johnny and Miguel whatever the narrative reasons for it could avoid the more problematic aspects of the karate age gap. Holy shit, he will be five times as formidable as he already is. That's why a battle between the two men would be so exciting to watch. Robbys prison story arc in Cobra Kai season 3 set up the perfect student for Kreeses dojo in season 4: Shawn Payne. Cobra Kai 8.5 TV Series Shawn Payne 2021 4 eps Greenland 6.4 James - Nice Looter 2020 The Time Capsule 5.2 Trumpet Player 2022 Credits Edit Actor8 Casting Department1 Self4 IMDbPro Expand below Actor Previous 8 The Walking Dead Elijah TV Series 2021-2022 19 episodes The Time Capsule Trumpet Player 2022 Miles from Nowhere Derek 2022 Cobra Kai Cobra Kai gonna need someone who's can go toe to toe with fighter like Hawk, Robby, etc, Ayo was it confirmed mike barne is going to join cobra kai, Though he and silver aren't in good terms, All what i know is that is that he is going to be a war vet. In its first four seasons, "Cobra Kai" has delivered rematches between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, a number of tense All-Valley Tournament duels, street fights, school brawls, scuffles in juvie, home-wrecking free-for-alls and a whole lot more. And not only would he Strike First, Strike Hard, and Show No Mercy, he would Crush His Enemies, See Them Driven Before Him, and Hear the Lamentations of their Women!!! SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE COBRA KAI CONTENT!#Cobrakai #Cobrakaiseason4 Some actors inCobra Kai are over 6 feet tall and some are just over 5 feet, which makes for a wide range of height in the main cast. Related:Cobra Kais Season 5 Rivalry Risks Repeating The Shows Biggest Flaw. Henggeler and her onscreen husband, Macchio, are the same height, and although she doesn't fight like the rest of the main characters, she shows her confidence and power in other ways on the show. Kyler is just fine in the 80's 1 note intimidating alpha role. That will depend on a number of other narrative factors, of course. Goals lol. Release Dates Their height has seemingly no relation to their fighting strength or intimidation factor, and it varies greatly. Kim Da-Eun might be an unknown quantity, but if she has caught their eye, she is certainly going to be quite an interesting character. He has also been something of a villain himself in the past, which could indicate that he'd be willing to meet Kreese's aggressive style a bit more readily than Daniel. Suffice it to say, Kreese is unlikely to let that betrayal go unpunished. During the third season of Cobra Kai, Johnny Lawrences (William Zabka) son Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan) is taken to the Sylmar Juvenile Correction Centers after partially paralyzing Miguel Diaz (Xolo Mariduea)in a school fight. In a recent interview, 'Cobra Kai' star Okea Eme-Akwari commented on whether he believed his character Shawn will join the Cobra Kai dojo in season 4. in a school fight. Remember when Johnny beat up the kids outside the liquor store inSeason 1? Hypothetical Matchup: Shawn Payne vs Tory Nichols. He's more careful, more calculated, and somehow just as good at karate despite being decades out of practice (we'll let this one go, Netflix). Mary Mouser portrays Sam, Daniel's daughter, andhas been able to giveher the proper depth the role calls for asthe character transforms throughout the series. YouTubeRobby and Shawn talk to each other after a fight. Prior to Robbys arrival, Hawk was his best fighter, and to properly replace him, Kreese will need to find someone whos equally skilled and merciless. Having him terrorize the EF/MD teens would be a sight! He also seemed more balanced than Hawk and Tory. Kristen Palamara is a reader, writer, and avid film/tv watcher from the Midwest United States. The movies portrayedJohnny as an antagonist to Daniel, but he was never as villainous as Kreese orTerry Silver in the third movie. SHAWN PAYNE IN COBRA KAI SEASON 5 - COBRA KAI THEORY - cobra kai, cobra kai season 4, cobra kai ending explained, cobra kai season 4 ending explained, cobra kai season 4. Kanahas made it very clear that he would like to join "Cobra Kai," and now that Silver will be running multiple Cobra Kai dojos without Kreese's help, he may need to call in a favor from an old business associate. Kenny Payne vs. Shawn Payne Netflix Now that Kenny Payne has become a relatively central "Cobra Kai" character, it's time for the show to reintroduce his older brother Shawn (Okea Eme-Akwari). His favorite film directors are Wes Craven and Pedro Almodvar. But I could see that potential. Even though his reasons for embracing Cobra Kai's aggressive philosophy are entirely understandable, it looks like Kenny might descend to the dark side in Season 5. Powered by. Just imagine Robby, Tory, and Shawn as the top three-man squad of their dojo. Courtney Henggeler portrays Amanda LaRusso, Daniel's wife, inCobra Kai. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Pain does not exist in this dojo. 10 Kenny Payne Took To Cobra Kai Style Quickly To Defend Himself. Fear does not exist in this dojo. The brawl is broken up, but neither Robby nor Shawn gives any information about the fight to the officers. Kreese, who could still be looking for new recruits, could soon set his attention on Shawn. Tory is independent, tough, and has grown as a fighter, even though she already had skills before joining Cobra Kai. Still, it would be a lot of fun if it ever were to go down. On a side note I love his name. RELATED:Cobra Kai: 10 Best Fight Scenes In Season 3. Shawn sent Kenny to Cobra Kai, where he trained and learned to master his fear. A former host of the Attack of the Queerwolf podcast, Brennan has been writing and podcasting about pop culture (especially horror films) for a decade. Brennan (he/him) is a senior writer at Screen Rant and a millennial who knows more about 80's slasher films than he has any right to. Their climactic duel at the end of "The Karate Kid Part III" may be the most brutal across all of the films, which would put a lot of fire behind an adult rematch. Since Miguel beat his rival in Season 1's All-Valley final and Robby nearly paralyzed Miguel during Season 2's school brawl, the two characters haven't met on the mat again. Crimes Because of the torment Silver visited upon Daniel in "The Karate Kid Part III," the younger man is understandably upset to see him again. He is Robby Keene 's former bully in juvenile detention. Gianni DeCenzo portrays Demetri onCobra Kaiand is the tallest younger actor on the show. Initially, Robby attempts to follow his former sensei Daniel LaRussos (Ralph Macchio) teachings and fights with honor. AssaultBatteryAbuseHarassmentBullyingPsychological abuseTheft Bertrand is 5-foot-6-inches without the mohawk hairstyle, but the mohawk gives Hawk more than just a newpersona, as it also makes him appear taller on the show. I would LOVE to see him join Cobra Kai in Season 4. Miguel severely aggravates his back, and while the injury ultimately isn't as bad as it initially appears, he doesn't return to the field of play. Also Kenny is a little bit young. Shawn Payne is the perfect candidate for Terry Silver's Cobra Kai, he's big, strong, a good brawler and has no qualms of breaking the rules and being dishonorable. The biggest problem Robby faced while he was in prison was Shawn, a boy who led a small group of bullies. Okea Eme-Akwari was born on June 26, 1995, and is already 27 years old. Since Terry Silver was first introduced in "The Karate Kid Part III," he's mostly played second fiddle to John Kreese (Martin Kove). Plus, I kinda liked how he came to respect Robby after he fought back. He also just felt.. smarter than the others, especially Kyler. Yeah he's been roughed up by Miguel and not the threat Shaun is but at least there's a logical story to tell. He would be the very personification of Cobra Kai. I dont know [Seo] in person but I feel like I might outsize him a bit, said the 25-year-old. Hopefully, "Cobra Kai" will eventually deliver that battle, be it in Season 5 or some other, farther-off point for the franchise. Despite ganging up against Robby at first, he didnt really need his buddies to put up a good fight like Kyler did in S1, I definitely want to see him back in Kreeses CK, he would fit perfectly. Yeah, Shawn was a great villain, I liked how he was a good fighter despite no martial arts experience. Cobra Kai (2018-2023) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Series Directed by Series Writing Credits Series Cast Series Produced by Series Music by Series Cinematography by Series Film Editing by Series Casting By Series Production Design by Series Art Direction by Series Set Decoration by Series Costume Design by Obviously, Johnny will be spending a good part of Season 5 following Miguel to Mexico, so a duel with Chozen may not be right around the corner. After Robby is released from the detention center, he feels betrayed by Daniel and Johnny. Welcome to Cobra Kai! The frequent fights keep "Cobra Kai" fresh and exciting, and a big part of the show's appeal is in seeing which characters will be pitted against each other next. Also, please give us some actual justification for the Yasmine thing. I am an admin of this site. It's a story about the need for balance in life, about the dangers of bullying, and about the value of personal growth. Okea Eme-Akwari plays Shawn in "Cobra Kai.". Kanan is now watching a new generation of actors such as Jacob Bertrand, Xolo Mariduea and Peyton List wear the uniform in "Cobra Kai," which debuted on Netflix this month. And while all that certainly holds appeal for many of the show's viewers, the thing that truly sets "Cobra Kai" apart from the competition is the karate - the fights. Show created by Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg. Thomas Ian Griffith reprised the role of Terry Silver, which he originated in 1989'sThe Karate Kid Part III. Vote. In addition to a group of new karate students, the series has featured the return of characters including John Kreese (Martin Kove),Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue), andThe Karate Kid Part II'sKumiko (Tamlyn Tomita). In addition to him, Kreese also has Kyler (Joe Seo) and Tory (Peyton List) at his disposal, both of whom are likely to be key to his plans for the tournament.