Cardiff City welcome Kit Symons' Fulham side for the third consecutive season on Saturday, as they both suffered Premier League relegation in April 2014 and failed to secure immediate promotions.
A tight affair is likely to be in store during this Championship opener, with the two managers both feeling confident of starting the season with a well needed three points.
Cardiff team news
Cardiff have a few problems throughout their large squad with star man Bruno Manga still not fully recovered from a knock he picked up in pre season. Kenwyne Jones is struggling for fitness after his commitments in the Gold Cup with Trinidad and Tobago. Ben Turner will be out for a few weeks with David Marshall ruled out for the first three league games after his red card on the final day against Nottingham Forest.
Joe Mason is expected to lead the line after his goal packed pre season. He is expected to be joined in the starting line up by Sammy Ameobi, Joe Ralls and Kagisho Dikagcoi after they all had promising performances throughout the summer friendlies.
Fulham team news
Fulham will travel to South Wales without summer signing Luke Garbutt. The left-back, on loan from Everton, suffered an ankle injury during the pre-season friendly against Crystal Palace last weekend.
Scott Parker and Welsh international George Williams will also miss the big kick-off as they continue their recoveries from injury, while Fernando Amorebieta and Adam Taggart are also absent through injury.
Recent History
Two seasons ago Cardiff and Fulham faced off in the Premier League and it was the previous who completed the double. A Jordon Mutch wonder goal in the last minute helped Cardiff claim a 2-1 victory for their first away win in the top flight. The home game was more straightforward as two goals from Steven Caulker helped Cardiff ease to a 3-1 win. Fulham were also the victims last season on a historic day where Cardiff returned to their famous blue home shirt. That day an early header from Sean Morrison was all that separated the two sides.
Both managers are setting their targets sky high as they've both revealed they're targetting a place in the play offs. They both face tricky starts to the season so an opening day victory could prove to be crucial.