Swansea City will be looking to get their Championship campaign off to a winning start when they welcome Birmingham City to the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Swans are under new management but will be pushing for promotion once again, whilst Birmingham are looking forward to a new era under fresh ownership at the club.
Match preview
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Swansea are preparing for their sixth-straight season in the Championship after they were unsuccessful in their attempts to gain promotion to the Premier League last season.
There is certainly cause for optimism around South Wales, however, given the Swans' form at the end of the last campaign, with the team going nine games unbeaten from March until May.
Former boss Russell Martin has departed to link up with recently-relegated Southampton, allowing Michael Duff to take the reins of a side who will continue their possession-based methods under the ex-Barnsley head coach.
Left-back Ryan Manning followed his boss to St Mary's meaning Swansea have lost influential figures over the summer, although the retention of Dutchman Joel Piroe could be key to the Swans' success this term.
Jerry Yates has joined from recently-relegated Blackpool, with the Englishman netting an impressive 14 Championship goals last season for a Tangerines side who were unable to preserve their second-tier status.
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It has been a summer of drastic change on and off the field for Birmingham, and for the first time in a long while, Bluenoses are looking up instead of worryingly over their shoulders.
July 13 will forever be a special day in the history of Blues after the takeover of the club by Shelby Companies Limited was officially confirmed, ending a troubling seven years under the control of Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited.
As well as the addition of NFL legend Tom Brady to the board of advisors, the Second City club have also recruited significantly in playing staff this summer, bringing in the likes of Siriki Dembele and Tyler Roberts from Bournemouth and Leeds United respectively.
The West Midlands outfit have had to be careful with their spending, meaning no one around the club is expecting a promotion push this year, although the sales of Tahith Chong and Jobe Bellingham have allowed Blues to invest sensibly into the squad.
John Eustace's side will be hoping for a repeat of their trip to Swansea last season, when an injury-time goal from Auston Trusty sealed a 4-3 win in South Wales.
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Team News
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Swansea have a few injury concerns ahead of their season opener, with Joe Allen and Josh Ginnelly still in recovery from their respective issues.
Former Birmingham loanee Liam Walsh is set to be sidelined for a number of weeks due to a calf injury - the midfielder will be hoping to stake his claim as a regular starter for the Swans this term.
Eustace has fitness worries of his own as he prepares to take his side to South Wales, with right-back Ethan Laird a doubt after missing last weekend's friendly loss to Peterborough United.
Marcel Oakley and Josh Williams will fight for that spot if former Manchester United man Laird is not available, although neither possess much first-team experience at Blues.
The competition for places in the middle of the park has been tough in pre-season for the visitors, and it seems as if Welsh youngster Jordan James has won the battle to start alongside Juninho Bacuna and Krystian Bielik in the engine room.
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Fisher; Key, Cabango, Darling, Wood; Grimes, Fulton, Abdulai; Ntcham, Yates, Piroe
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Laird, M Roberts, Sanderson, Longelo; Bielik, Bacuna, James; Anderson, T Roberts, Hogan
We say: Swansea City 2-1 Birmingham City
Swansea look like a force to be reckoned with this term after adding the goals of Yates to their attack - could 2023-24 finally be the campaign that the Swans earn promotion?
Birmingham's route to the Premier League is unlikely to be complete by May, and supporters may have to be a little patient before seeing significant improvements on the pitch.
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Top tip
Carter White
