Back in the Premier League after a seven-year exile, Middlesbrough should showcase several of the nine new faces Aitor Karanka has imported to the Riverside this summer. Boro fans will be keen to take a first look at Víctor Valdés, Álvaro Negredo, Marten de Roon et al, while Joe Allen is set to make his Stoke debut following a £13m move from Liverpool. Given that Karanka’s side conceded only eight Championship goals at home last season Mark Hughes must trust his strikers are wearing their shooting boots. Louise Taylor
Kick-off Saturday 3pm
Venue Riverside Stadium
Last season n/a
Referee Kevin Friend
Last season G20, Y59, R3, 3.25 cards per game
Odds H 5-4 A 5-2 D 11-5
Middlesbrough
Subs from Guzan, Konstantopoulos, Mejías, Nsue, Espinosa, De Sart, Forshaw, Fischer, De Pena, Fry, Reach, Nugent, Rhodes, Stuani
Doubtful Ayala (ankle)
Injured Husband (shoulder, unknown), Leadbitter (hernia, unknown)
Suspended None
Form n/a
Discipline (last season) Y67 R2
Top scorer (last season) Nugent 8
Stoke City
Subs from Given, Haugaard, Muniesa, Johnson, Wilson, Bardsley, Allen, Adam, Sobhi, Joselu, Walters, Crouch
Doubtful Johnson (thigh)
Injured Afellay (knee, Jan), Ireland (broken leg, Feb)
Suspended None
Form n/a
Discipline (last season) Y52 R3
Top scorer (last season) Arnautovic 11
