Cambridge United and Oxford United will commence their respective 2023-24 League One campaigns when the sides meet on Saturday afternoon at the Abbey Stadium.
The U's salvaged their third-tier status on the final day of the 2022-23 season with a victory over Forest Green Rovers, while the visitors finished one point and one place better off in the table than their opponents this weekend.
Match preview
After avoiding relegation on the final day of last season, Cambridge United will be aiming for a much-improved campaign this time around.
The U's finished 20th in League One last term, picking up 46 points in as many matches, with a dramatic 2-0 victory in the season finale over Forest Green Rovers securing their status in the third tier for another year. Morecambe's defeat at Exeter City coupled with MK Dons' 0-0 draw at Burton Albion meant Cambridge stayed up by one point.
Mark Bonner will be pleased with his side's preparations for the new season, securing a 1-1 draw with Cardiff City before enjoying victories over St Albans City, Ipswich Town and Gillingham.
The U's rounded off their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 defeat against Barnet at the Hive on July 29, where a first-half flurry saw the home side score twice in quick succession from set-pieces through Danny Collins and Nicke Kabamba.
Cambridge amassed 31 points from 23 matches last season in front of their own fans, and Bonner will know that home form could prove to be crucial for survival, just as it was last year.
Bonner will be hoping his side can replicate last season's opening day result – a 1-0 victory over MK Dons thanks to Harvey Knibbs's 17th-minute strike.
As for the visitors, Oxford United finished the 2022-23 season one point and one place ahead of their opponents this weekend, in 19th place with 47 points.
In a similar vein to Cambridge, the Yellows will aspire to finish higher up the League One table this campaign, after massively underachieving with a squad that was capable, on paper, of far more, having accomplished back-to-back playoff finishes prior to their 76-point haul in 2021-22, narrowly missing out on the postseason.
Liam Manning will be out to emulate the strong promotion challenge he oversaw at MK Dons during his time there, after taking over from Karl Robinson at the Kassam Stadium in March.
Oxford's preparations for the new season gives fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic, as they have enjoyed high-scoring victories over Barnet and Queens Park Rangers.
Last year saw the Yellows record 24 points from 23 matches on the road, but Manning's side only managed to pick up four points from their opening five away matches.
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Team News
Mark Bonner will be under no illusions that a big rebuild is required at the Abbey Stadium, with 10 players released at the end of last season.
Jack Stevens, Danny Andrew, Jordan Cousins and Gassan Ahadme have all come through the door, and Bonner will be hopeful they can all make an immediate impact.
As for the visitors, they have also made signings ahead of the new campaign, with Ruben Rodrigues arriving from Notts County, as well as Josh McEachran from Manning's former side MK Dons.
James Beadle has joined on-loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, while Jordan Thorniley has been brought in from Blackpool to shore up the defence.
Cameron Brannagan, Ciaron Brown and Marcus McGuane were all key players for Manning last season, and he will be expecting a similar impact from the trio this campaign.
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Stevens; L. Bennett, R. Bennett, Morrison, Andrew; Digby, Thomas, Lankester, Brophy, Kaikai; Ahadme
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Beadle, Long, Brown, Thorniley, Moore; McEachran, Brannagan, Rodrigues; Browne, Goodrham, Harris
We say: Cambridge United 1-2 Oxford United
With Cambridge losing 10 players, there has been significant turnover within the squad, so it could take a few weeks for Bonner's side to gel.
Oxford look good enough, on paper, to put up a promotion challenge this season, so we think they will start off strongly here with a victory.
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