Newcastle United fans may have expected more signings this summer following the club's takeover in January, but expectations will remain high following an impressive second half of last season.
The Magpies spent the first half of the 2021 - 22 season fighting relegation, only to finish 11th in the Premier League after a run that saw only Liverpool and Manchester City earn more points in the final 20 games of the season.
Newcastle will be hoping to carry their strong home form into the new season, having only lost one game at St. James' Park in their last ten (W7, D2).
Nottingham Forest, who were promoted from the Championship last season, visit Tyneside for their first Premier League opening day in 23 years.
Forest were no strangers to the top flight before this century, and Steve Cooper will be hoping to keep it that way after achieving the club's dream of promotion.
The Reds finished their Championship campaign strongly away from home, losing only two of 11 away games to earn promotion, and will look to carry that form to St. James' Park.
However, Forest have made 12 signings this summer and those players will need to quickly learn what it takes to play in a Steve Cooper team if they are to maintain their impressive away form.
Team News
Eddie Howe is expected to give debuts to Nick Pope and Sven Botman, who will join an otherwise familiar starting lineup.
"I think he's ready to play," Eddie Howe told Newcastle's media team about Botman. "I've seen him during pre-season and what a talent he is. I think he's going to be everything we hoped he would be. He's technically very good, very strong and very good defensively."
Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almiron will be vying for a starting spot ahead of Joe Willock, while Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes are expected to continue where they left off in midfield last season.
Kieran Trippier missed most of his time with Newcastle injured last season but will look to return to his right-back position for this game.
Injuries are expected to keep Javier Manquillo and Jonjo Shelvey out, while Jamal Lewis and Federico Fernandez are working their way back to fitness.
Steve Cooper used Brennan Johnson and Sam Surridge as strikers in Forest's last pre-season game against Valencia, but with Surridge recovering from a hernia operation in the summer, club record signing Taiwo Awoniyi could make his debut.
Jesse Lingard is expected to start behind the front two, with Dean Henderson, Harry Toffolo, Moussa Niakhate, and Lewis O'Brien also possible debutants.
Omar Richards will miss out due to a hairline fracture that will keep him out for up to three months while Ryan Yates is unlikely to feature through injury.
Wayne Hennessey missed Forest's final preseason game with an injury, but Steve Cooper has stated that the goalkeeper is back in training.
Likely line-ups
Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Targett; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
Henderson; Worrall, Niakhaté, McKenna; Williams, Colback, O’Brien, Toffolo; Lingard, Johnson, Awoniyi
Key players
All five of Allan Saint-Maximin's league goals last season came at home, with Newcastle remaining unbeaten each time he scored. With 1.8 shots on goal per game last season, the Frenchman was quite active going forward.
The 25-year-old, though, is more known for his direct approach and creative outlet. The forward completed 150 successful dribbles over 35 appearances last season, while creating 50 key passes.
Saint-Maximin had a total of five assists at the end of the previous season, but he will be hopeful that a strong start to this one can raise that total.
Although Nottingham Forest are relatively new to the Premier League, Jesse Lingard is not.
Lingard, who spent a total of 11 years at Manchester United, will be attempting to use his talent and experience to aid Forest in winning as many games as they can this year.
The 29-year-old was last afforded regular playing time in the Premier League while playing for West Ham, where he amassed nine goals and four assists in just 16 appearances back in 2021. The fact that one of those goals was scored at St. James' Park will please Forest supporters.
A goal in this match would be the perfect start for Lingard, who will be eager to establish himself early in the season in order to stake a claim in the England World Cup team for Qatar.
Match details
Where is the game being played?
The match is being played at Newcastle's St. James' Park in the north east.
What time is kick-off?
This match is on Saturday, August 6, and kicks off at 15:00pm.
How can I watch?
This game is unavailable to watch in the UK and Ireland.