Keates, who saw his side take a well-deserved point against they Tykes after ditching his favoured 4-4-2 in favour of a combination of 4-1-4-1 and 4-3-3, admits that this is exactly the type of issue all managers crave, and called upon the players on the fringes of the first-team to continue to push for a place in the matchday squad.
Dean, who was speaking via the Express & Star, has seen his side go undefeated in their opening seven league outings, and is keen to select the strongest possible line-up for each match, even if that means a change in formation.
The Walsall-born boss said; "These are the headaches you want as a manager. The lads have been outstanding, the ones who have come in.
"I say to them every week, if you’re not in the 18, try to get into the 18 and if you are not in the starting XI, get yourself into the starting XI. When you get an opportunity, make sure you stake your claim – and they have done that.
"Everyone who has come in has done their best to stake their claim for a starting spot. So I now have decisions to make on things tactically."
The manager then went on to look ahead to the clash with Grant McCann's side, admitting he is expecting it to be something of a slug-fest, he continued; "It will be two teams that are going to have a go. Knowing Grant, from playing against him many years ago, he has always been a good football player.
"His team will be an extension of himself. It will be a battle of two teams that want to go out there and win the football match and do it in the right way. They will be organised, they play with a good shape so it will be tough.
"It’s a difficult game because they have had a good start. But we are at home so we will be doing our best to go out and get three points."
The manager then went on to look ahead to the clash with Grant McCann's side, admitting he is expecting it to be something of a slug-fest, he continued; "It will be two teams that are going to have a go. Knowing Grant, from playing against him many years ago, he has always been a good football player.
"His team will be an extension of himself. It will be a battle of two teams that want to go out there and win the football match and do it in the right way. They will be organised, they play with a good shape so it will be tough.
"It’s a difficult game because they have had a good start. But we are at home so we will be doing our best to go out and get three points."