New eras begin in earnest at both West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool on Saturday's first day of the new Premier League season.
Both clubs have during the summer undergone changes in management following the respective departures of now-England boss Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish.
There has in fact been a strange managerial symmetry between the two clubs over recent years after Hodgson joined West Brom following his sacking at Anfield while new head coach Steve Clarke previously worked as Dalglish's assistant.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are now under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers having recruited the Northern Irishman from Swansea City as the Merseyside club look to improve on last season's eight-placed finish in the league.
Clarke will likewise be under pressure to make improvements at West Brom but he will have his work cut out to build on the excellent 2011/12 top-half finish which was secured under the lead of Hodgson.
Whatever the future has in store for the Scot in his first job as a manager after years of working as a right-hand man to the likes of Ruud Gullit, Jose Mourinho and Gianfranco Zola, he will be desperate for a good start having been dismissed by Liverpool in the summer.
Clarke, though, could be left counting the cost of the midweek international friendlies which have dealt him a number of injury concerns.
Scotland's James Morrison (ankle) and Sweden defender Jonas Olsson (minor knock) both returned from playing for their countries with problems and are being assessed ahead of the weekend's match.
New signing Markus Rosenberg is unlikely to be fit in time while midfielder Graeme Dorrans remains on leave with his daughter in hospital due to meningitis.
Striker Shane Long is available despite missing the Republic of Ireland's match with Serbia.
New Liverpool signings Fabio Borini and Joe Allen could both be given debuts at The Hawthorns.
Striker Borini is pushing for a start having impressed in pre-season since arriving in July from Roma, although midfielder Allen may have to settle for a place on the bench having only joined from Swansea a week ago.
Midfielder Joe Cole has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in the Europa League qualifier against FC Gomel in Belarus.
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