Sunderland will face a Hull City side without five first-team players when the season gets under way at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
The Tigers are the first visitors to the Stadium of Light this term, with the Carabao Cup first-round fixture raising the curtain on the new season.
But while Phil Parkinson will pick from a largely full-strength side, Hull boss Grant McCann already has several injury issues to contend with.
Australian left-back Callum Elder and Portuguese midfielder Leo da Silva Lopes have both been added to the list of absentees this week, with City already planning to be without James Scott and Josh Magennis, who are on international duty.
Scott is set to feature for Scotland Under-21s, while striker Magennis has been called up by Northern Ireland.
New signing Lewie Coyle, who was on Sunderland's radar in the January transfer window, is suspended.
There could be three debutants for the visitors, however, with Greg Docherty and Josh Emmanuel in line to feature, along with new skipper Richie Smallwood.
Sunderland have a doubt over Elliott Embleton after the youngster came off in the friendly win over Gateshead two weeks ago.
However, Parkinson confirmed he was back in training, and that both Josh Scowen and Jordan Willis should be fit for contention this weekend.
