The 2016/17 season is set to see a fresh approach to things at the Cardiff City Stadium with new manager Paul Trollope looking to start his reign positively after he was hired to replaced outgoing head coach Russell Slade.
It will be a tough start to the Championship league season with the Bluebirds having been drawn away against Birmingham in their opening fixture of the campaign. Both teams finished in the top 10 last season with only 5 points separating them.
Big questions remain over the future of several players within the team. Former first team regulars Ben Turner and Kenwyne Jones have already been released and there are rumours a few other players could soon be following them on their way out of the club.
Football League World writer Steve Day looks at what the likely starting line-up will be for Cardiff City in their opening match of the season using the 4-2-3-1 formation.
GK – David Marshall
Every season there is one player who is linked with a move away from the club and it is the Cardiff number one Marshall.
He has been with the club since his free transfer move to the Bluebirds from Norwich back in 2009 and has impressed every season. During the club's only season in the Premier League he was named the club Player of the Year and was also included in the Premier League Team of the Season.
He is contracted until 2018 so unless a big team bids a huge amount he should be staying with the club for next season.
DR – Lee Peltier
The former Huddersfield full back did not really set the Championship alight last season but he did consistently do a solid job at right back for the Bluebirds.
He has even been touted as a potential captain for this coming season due to his leadership and communication skills on the pitch.
He might have competition from Fabio if Declan John is brought back in from the wilderness but, for now, he remains the first choice right back.
DL – Fabio
This is one spot that could well be up for grabs. It is no secret that Trollope loves to show faith in the youth and as a proud Welshman he will be keen to bring Declan John back in from the cold.
John impressed during his stint at left back for the club in the Premier League but was shunned by Slade despite receiving rave reviews when out on loan at Barnsley and Chesterfield.
In the long term, John might take this spot but for the time being it remains Fabio's to lose.
DC – Bruno Ecuele Manga
There seems very little doubt that Manga will be leaving at some point this summer but the fact he has not departed the club yet has left many suggesting he is waiting to see how Trollope manages things when he returns from Euro 2016.
It might even be a case of Trollope giving Manga game time to try and persuade him to stay. He is undoubtedly the best centre back in the squad and should be used if he is still fit and available.
DC – Matt Connolly
The ex-QPR defender has always stated that versatility has been his downfall because he has been moved across the back-line so many times that he has failed to establish himself in a single position at the club.
This changed last season when Slade put him as a centre back and he flourished.
He was confirmed as Player of the Season and he is certain to be a starter for that first game.
DM – Aron Gunnarsson
One player who failed to shine under Slade was the gritty central midfielder Gunnarsson.
The Iceland captain has thrived at Euro 2016 to help his side reach the 2nd Round and it would be absolute nonsense for Trollope to not utilise the man who played such a key role in getting Cardiff to the Premier League a few seasons back.
In the right formation, this man can be a massive influence and could be a brilliant captain too.
DM – Stuart O'Keefe
O'Keefe was signed as an apparent back-up player but when given a run of games in the team last season he really came to the fore.
He could be the battling central midfield partner that Gunnarsson would want alongside him. Their partnership could free up the attack-minded players without leaving the defence too vulnerable.
He would face stiff competition from Joe Ralls but O'Keefe would edge it for the first game simply because it is away and a tough fixture.
MR – David Cotterill
The Birmingham winger has been linked with a £1 million move to South Wales to join his home town club.
It seems negotiations will take place when Trollope returns from France with Wales but it would be typically poetic in a football sense if Cotterill's first game in a Cardiff top was against his old employers.
ML - Anthony Pilkington
The creative midfielder did a sterling job as a make-shift striker last season when Slade was limited with his options but it is clear his preferred position is out wide where he can set up attacks and get the assists for goals.
On his day, he can be one of the best wingers in the Championship and provided he can stay clear of injury he will be a big player for the Bluebirds this season.
AM - Lex Immers
The new signing from Feyenoord spent last season on loan with the club and is set to line-up in that opening game.
He scored 6 goals in 16 league starts last season from the attacking central midfield position so it will be no surprise if Trollope decides to keep playing him there.
FC - Idriss Saadi
The 24 year old striker who was signed from Clermont has only made two appearances for Cardiff and is still yet to score a goal but he is highly-rated within the squad and was a France Under 19 international as recently as 2011.
Injury has prevented him playing more of a part at the club so far but with the likes of Eoin Doyle, Federico Macheda, and Adam Le Fondre unlikely to be staying with the club and any new signing needing time to bed in it is looking likely that Saadi will be given the role of striker in that opening game.
Do you agree with the players chosen in this list? Which players would you include that have not been mentioned? Let us know in the comments section below.