And so it begins. Sunderland make the short journey to South Shields tonight to get their 2019 pre-season fixtures under way at Mariners Park.
Jack Ross has promised to take a strong squad with him to take on the BetVictor NPL Premier Division side in front of a sell-out crowd.
It's likely many players will have some gametime tonight, with a strong chance of wholesale changes at half-time as the Black Cats' boss looks to get as many minutes under the belt for as many players as possible.
Max Power and Aiden McGeady will both miss the game through injury, while Bryan Oviedo has yet to return to Wearside after playing for Costa Rica in the Gold Cup this summer.
Donald Love's future at the club is in doubt as he is able to leave on a free transfer, but we could see the two new signings Conor McLaughlin and Lee Burge.
Keeper Jon McLaughlin has only just returned to training after being given extra time off following his time spent with the Scotland camp, but he too is set to be involved.
So which side would you like to see take to the field tonight in red-and-white?
Pick your Sunderland XI using our interactive team selector below and see how it compares with the most popular side and formation.
