Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest commence their 2022-23 Premier League campaign with a fixture at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon.
While the Magpies are targeting European qualification this season, newly-promoted Forest are simply looking to make a statement on their return to the top flight after more than two decades away.
Match preview
With six wins coming from their final eight matches in 2021-22, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe would not have wanted the season to end as his side consistently impressed during the run-in.
However, it led to the Magpies moving onto the next stage of their progression, putting plans in place to launch a bid for European football over the next nine-and-a-half months.
Supporters would have liked to have seen an attacking player come through the door by this stage of the transfer window, but there can be no complaints with the acquisitions of Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope and Lille defender Sven Botman.
Signing the latter felt like a needle mover, the Netherlands international rejecting AC Milan to become the next signing of this ongoing project, and a strong start to the season may lead to other high-profile names following the centre-back to the North East.
Although Newcastle endured some mixed results during pre-season, they posted wins over Atalanta BC and Athletic Bilbao on successive days last weekend.
When Forest won the Championship playoff final against Huddersfield Town in May, many fans would have assumed that a squad overhaul was unlikely given the performances produced by their existing crop.
Steve Cooper and the club's hierarchy thought differently, and as many as 11 first-team additions have been made ahead of their opening encounter.
That is yet to translate into results with Forest winning just two of their seven pre-season fixtures, including failing to prevail in any of their closing three matches.
However, a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at home to Valencia last Saturday has kept Forest trending in the right direction ahead of a game where they will relish the tag of underdogs.
These two clubs have met on seven occasions since Forest last competed in the top flight back in 1999, six of those games coming in the Championship.
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Team News
Howe is expected to hand debuts to Pope and Botman, who will take their places between the sticks and in the middle of the backline respectively.
With the squad being split for the last two friendlies, the remainder of the team remains unclear, but there are unlikely to make any surprises.
Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almiron will hope to be preferred to Joe Willock, depending on how Howe lines up in the final third.
Cooper opted to use Brennan Johnson and Sam Surridge for the friendly against Valencia, a sign that new forward Taiwo Awoniyi may feature on the substitutes' bench.
Jesse Lingard will start behind the front two, while Dean Henderson, Neco Williams, Harry Toffolo and Lewis O'Brien could also make their debuts.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Targett; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; N. Williams, Colback, O'Brien, Toffolo; Lingard; Johnson, Surridge
We say: Newcastle United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Given the standard of players that have been signed by Forest, it would be naive to rule out the visitors from causing a surprise in the North East. However, despite Forest likely to have a spring in their step, Newcastle's greater quality and experience should shine through come the final whistle.
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