Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa ramp up their preparations for the new campaign by facing off in a pre-season friendly.
The West Midlands rivals have not played each other in more than three years, meaning that there is likely to be a competitive edge to the match.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Much is expected of Wolves this coming season following their impressive showing last time out, but even boss Kenny Jackett himself admits that more new signings are needed.
As it stands heading into the midweek friendly against Villa, just two new senior faces have arrived during the off-season - Conor Coady and Jed Wallace.
With several players from the squad that narrowly missed out on the playoffs a little under three months ago also departing, including star player Bakary Sako, Jackett is hoping to see more arrivals before the curtain raiser on August 8.
"We are planning and moving ahead and improving the team and the club is something we are looking to do," the former Millwall boss told Wanderers' official website. "Whether that is by bringing someone in from outside or someone coming through the youth ranks and showing very well."
That adds even more significance to these pre-season outings, as a blend of players are afforded some game time. Things have gone well enough for Wolves in that regard, after picking up two wins on their French tour and remaining unbeaten in games against Burton Albion and Shrewsbury Town.
The quality of opposition takes another step up with the visit of the Villans on Tuesday night, before a final outing against Doncaster Rovers on the weekend.
Right now, though, it is all about integrating the squad in preparation for the season opener at Blackburn Rovers, with a victory over near-rivals Villa going a long way to helping build fans' confidence.
Form in pre-season: WWWD
Aston Villa
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While last season was seen overwhelmingly as a positive campaign for Wolves, it was a different matter entirely down the road at Villa Park.
Victory in the FA Cup final would have gone a long way to changing all that, of course, yet the Villans' heavy defeat against Arsenal rounded off what had been a poor campaign from start to finish.
Pre-season can often bring a change of outlook as supporters look forward to the campaign ahead, but after inevitably losing star man Christian Benteke to Liverpool it appears as though another season of fighting fire could be on the cards for Tim Sherwood.
The capture of Jordan Ayew from Ligue 1 outfit Lorient will provide some flair in attack, while Idrissa Gueye and Scott Sinclair have also joined for relatively large fees.
Gueye in particular impressed in Villa's 1-1 draw against Walsall last time out, with fellow new boy Jordan Amavi also being given a run out.
Little can be read into pre-season results, of course, which is handy for Sherwood, who has seen his side claim just one win from their four outings to date.
Fitness must now edge towards peak level with just two games left to go before things get underway against newly-promoted Bournemouth, but more new signings are likely to be needed before then, even if the new attacking set-up does offer promise.
Recent form in pre-season: LDWD
Team News
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Gabriel Agbonlahor, Carles Gil, Jack Grealish and Gary Gardner are all fitness doubts for Villa, while Jores Okore is likely to miss the opening months of the season.
Youngsters Jordan Lyden, Jerell Sellars, Harry McKirdy and Lewis Kinsella were all given a taste of action against Walsall, and they may feature once again at some stage at Molineux.
Nouha Dicko showed promise against Shrewsbury in Wolves' last match, meanwhile, finding the net 10 minutes in to put his side ahead.
The Mali international is likely to start once again on Tuesday, with Benik Afobe and Tommy Rowe potentially partnering him up top.
Kevin McDonald - in the middle of a reported contract dispute at Wanderers - is also in line to start in front of what is expected to be a large attendance.
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Ikeme, Ebanks-Landell, Golbourne, Coady, Stearman, Edwards, Van La Parra, McDonald, Dicko, Afobe, Rowe
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Steer, Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi, Bacuna, Westwood, Gueye, Sinclair, Kozak, Ayew
Head To Head
The local rivals have not faced off since both were in the Premier League in 2011-12. On that occasion, it was home side Wolves who claimed a 3-2 win after a goalless draw in the reverse fixture earlier that term.
Overall, Wanderers and Villa have faced off 107 times - the Villans claiming 47 wins and their neighbours prevailing 34 times.
It is a different matter at Molineux, however, where Jackett's charges have claimed 21 wins to their opponents' 18.
We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Aston Villa
Neither side truly impressed in their last outing, and with the new campaign now less than a fortnight away time is ticking down to impress. Results do not mean all that much in pre-season, but motivation should not be too hard to come by in this local derby meeting which we think will end all square.
Daniel Lewis
