An end effector for a surgical stapling instrument comprising: a staple cartridge having a plurality of staple cavities each adapted to contain a staple; and an anvil comprising: a plurality of primary staple pockets, wherein each said primary staple pocket is configured to receive a staple leg of a staple; and a plurality of secondary staple pockets adjacent to said primary staple pockets, wherein each said secondary staple pocket is configured to receive a said staple leg, wherein the plurality of primary staple pockets corresponds to the plurality of staple cavities in the staple cartridge, and wherein for each of said staple cavities, a primary staple pocket is adapted to receive each of the legs of a staple contained therein; and wherein each said primary staple pocket comprises a set of primary forming cups, wherein each set of primary forming cups consists of a first primary forming cup and a second primary forming cup, each configured to receive and deform a staple leg of a staple, wherein at least one said secondary staple pocket is positioned adjacent to said first primary forming cup, and wherein at least one said secondary staple pocket is positioned adjacent to said second primary forming cup; wherein each said secondary staple pocket comprises a set of secondary forming cups, and wherein each set of secondary forming cups consists of an array of forming cups at least partially surrounding a primary staple pocket; whereby a staple leg that does not properly enter a primary staple pocket may instead enter a secondary staple pocket. a staple cartridge having a plurality of staple cavities each adapted to contain a staple; and an anvil comprising: a plurality of primary staple pockets, wherein each said primary staple pocket is configured to receive a staple leg of a staple; and a plurality of secondary staple pockets adjacent to said primary staple pockets, wherein each said secondary staple pocket is configured to receive a said staple leg, a plurality of primary staple pockets, wherein each said primary staple pocket is configured to receive a staple leg of a staple; and a plurality of secondary staple pockets adjacent to said primary staple pockets, wherein each said secondary staple pocket is configured to receive a said staple leg, wherein the plurality of primary staple pockets corresponds to the plurality of staple cavities in the staple cartridge, and wherein for each of said staple cavities, a primary staple pocket is adapted to receive each of the legs of a staple contained therein; and wherein each said primary staple pocket comprises a set of primary forming cups, wherein each set of primary forming cups consists of a first primary forming cup and a second primary forming cup, each configured to receive and deform a staple leg of a staple, wherein at least one said secondary staple pocket is positioned adjacent to said first primary forming cup, and wherein at least one said secondary staple pocket is positioned adjacent to said second primary forming cup; wherein each said secondary staple pocket comprises a set of secondary forming cups, and wherein each set of secondary forming cups consists of an array of forming cups at least partially surrounding a primary staple pocket; whereby a staple leg that does not properly enter a primary staple pocket may instead enter a secondary staple pocket.