/**
  * @param $current_linked_posts
  *
  * @return mixed
  */
 private function maybe_parse_candidate_linked_posts(array $current_linked_posts = array())
 {
     $linked_post_type_container = $this->linked_posts->get_post_type_container($this->post_type);
     // filter out any non-truthy values
     $current_linked_posts = array_filter($current_linked_posts);
     $has_no_current_linked_posts = empty($current_linked_posts);
     $submitted_data_contains_candidate_linked_posts = !empty($_POST[$linked_post_type_container]);
     if ($has_no_current_linked_posts && $submitted_data_contains_candidate_linked_posts) {
         $candidate_linked_posts = $_POST[$linked_post_type_container];
         $linked_post_type_id_field = $this->linked_posts->get_post_type_id_field_index($this->post_type);
         if (!empty($candidate_linked_posts[$linked_post_type_id_field])) {
             $candidate_linked_posts = $candidate_linked_posts[$linked_post_type_id_field];
             return $candidate_linked_posts;
         }
         return $current_linked_posts;
     }
     return $current_linked_posts;
 }