Roy Hodgson will today weigh up whether to unleash new signing Eberechi Eze on the Premier League when Crystal Palace kick-off the season at home to Southampton.
Eze, a £20million summer signing from QPR, has declared himself fit after recovering from a groin injury but he has only played 45 minutes in pre-season and is short of match fitness.
Michy Batshuayi is likely to go straight into the team after completing his loan switch from Chelsea.
Palace are still missing injured defenders Mamadou Sakho, Gary Cahill and James Tomkins, so Cheikhou Kouyate is set to start alongside Scott Dann at centre-back.
New signing Nathan Ferguson is still recovering from the knee injury he suffered at West Brom last season, Patrick van Aanholt is missing and Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham have also been ruled out.
Youngster Tyrick Mitchell is set to start at left-back.
Crystal Palace XI against Southampton (4-4-2): Guaita; Ward, Dann, Kouyate, Mitchell; Zaha, Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp; Ayew, Batshuayi
