Sunderland are putting together a programme of pre-season friendlies - but the traditional early warm-up games against non-league opposition are likely to be off the agenda.
The Black Cats returned for pre-season training around 10 days ago and have gradually stepped up their preparations in line with the EFL's Covid-19 protocols, beginning with non-contact training in small groups and then progressing last week to full-contact training in large groups.
The next stage will be to begin playing games to develop match fitness, just as in a normal pre-season, and Phil Parkinson and his coaching staff are understood to be making those plans now.
Sunderland frequently play non-league sides at the beginning of pre-season - their first friendly last summer was at South Shields, and the year before at Darlington - with the level of opposition increasing as the season start date approaches.
But this summer clubs will be wary of playing against non-league sides who have not been subject to the same Covid-19 testing regime that the EFL has introduced, fearing the possibility of introducing infection into their 'bubble'.
And that means clubs in League One such as Sunderland will look to U23 teams of Premier League or Championship sides - who are part of a Covid-19 testing regime - as potential opponents for their early pre-season fixtures.
Later in pre-season, Sunderland are expected to play against senior teams as they get ready for the season kick-off on September 12.
Sunderland's pre-season games will be played behind-closed-doors.
They could play some games at the Academy of Light training ground, but they are also likely to play at least one friendly at the Stadium of Light as a dry-run ahead of playing league games there.
