Two sides who narrowly avoided relegation last season will face off on the opening day of the new campaign when Leicester City host Sunderland at the King Power Stadium.

After turbulent years for both clubs, the two managers will be hopeful for a positive start as they look to avoid another relegation battle.

Leicester

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Many were expecting Leicester City to begin this season back in the Championship, and with a couple of months remaining in the last campaign, Foxes supporters would have been forgiven for resigning themselves to a return to the second tier of English football.

However, Nigel Pearson responded to the criticism directed his way perfectly to not only lead his side to safety, but to also record an impressive 14th-place finish with a superb run of form.

Despite the squad's heroics, it has been a summer of change for the club and Pearson's preparations for the new season were cut short when he parted company with Leicester in June, shortly after his son was sacked for his role in the sex tape scandal which took place on the tour of Thailand.

Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri arrived as his replacement, but it has been an appointment met with pessimism rather than excitement following the Italian's disastrous spell with Greece. Ranieri does bring experience of the Premier League with him, and it could be his knowledge of the English game which helps the Foxes.

Despite his past in England, it has been a long time since Ranieri has taken over a Premier League side - he was sacked by Chelsea in 2004 to pave the way for Jose Mourinho - and poor performances early in the campaign could make it difficult for him to win over the club's supporters.

It has been a productive pre-season for the squad, though, with Ranieri watching his side win four of their five friendlies and drawing the other one with Mansfield Town last month. Birmingham City were the toughest test in their schedule, which may suggest that it is difficult to read much into the results.

After all of the drama which took place late in the campaign, it is easy to forget that Leicester made a decent start to last season, but the lesson for the club's fans this year could be to not get too far ahead of themselves, whether they start with a victory on Saturday or not.

Pre-season form: WDWWW

Sunderland

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Sunderland seemed to do what they always in do in the Premier League in recent history, and that is produce the results when it matters to ensure they do not drop back down to the Championship. Whether it is Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet or Dick Advocaat, the Black Cats always seem to find a saviour in the closing stages of the season.

Advocaat was the name on the lips of every Sunderland supporter in May as the veteran Dutch coach led the team to safety, before finally accepting the challenge of taking over on a full-time basis earlier this summer.

Much like Ranieri, it could be Advocaat's experience which proves to be most decisive throughout a full season in the Premier League as he looks to keep up his record of never being relegated and take his squad further up the table to please the supporters who have been frustrated for so long.

The squad certainly looks different following some arrivals and departures, with Adam Matthews and Younes Kaboul joining to give the manager more options in defence, while Sebastian Coates accepted an offer to make his loan move permanent, too.

However, an exit has stolen most of the headlines after the promising Connor Wickham was sold to Crystal Palace in a deal which could bring the Black Cats £9m, and it is a move which also puts more pressure on the partnership of Steven Fletcher and Jermain Defoe, who will be expected to lead the way in attack.

French midfielder Yann M'Vila looks to be the perfect partner for Lee Cattermole in the centre of the pitch, but Sunderland supporters will be forgiven for waiting impatiently to see if the rumours linking them with Adnan Januzaj are true.

Three losses and three victories from pre-season is certainly not the best of returns, but Advocaat will be quietly confident that the squad he inspired to some impressive results a few months back are ready to take another step forward.

Pre-season form: WLLWLW

Team News

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M'Vila's deal was only confirmed on Thursday morning, and although he is likely to be available for the visitors, the midfielder could be forced to settle for a spot on the bench on the opening day of the season.

Summer signing Jeremain Lens looks set to make his full debut, possibly on either wing of an attacking trio, while Kaboul should start in the centre of defence next to John O'Shea.

The loss of Esteban Cambiasso, who was so influential for Leicester in the closing stages of last season, is likely to hurt Foxes supporters for some time, but his replacement N'Golo Kante should be given the opportunity from the start on Saturday despite only joining earlier this week.

Shinji Okazaki, a £7m signing from Mainz, is expected to lead the attack for the hosts, but Andrej Kramaric could be used from the bench in the opener.

Leicester possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel, De Laet, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs, Kante, Drinkwater, Schlupp, Vardy, Okazaki, Ulloa

Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Pantillimon, Jones, Kaboul, O'Shea, Van Aanholt, Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell, Johnson, Defoe, Lens

Head To Head

The two meetings between the sides last year were hardly memorable, with two goalless draws producing very few dramatic moments, but there is plenty to suggest that there will be excitement on Saturday.

Tobias Hysen and David Connolly were on the scoresheet the last time Sunderland picked up a win away to Leicester back in 2007.

However, Advocaat does not have history on his side. A Sunderland boss has not recorded a victory on the opening day of the season since Steve Bruce in 2010.

We say: Leicester City 1-1 Sunderland

It is always tough to make predictions on the opening day of the season, but with very little to separate between these sides on paper, it could come down to a moment of magic as both managers look to get off to a positive start. The end result could be a draw, which may suit the Black Cats more.

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