The clash at Portman Road might not look to be one of the weekend's big games, but there's an intriguing clash of League One managers here who have found their way into the Championship via different routes.

Tony Mowbray has fought his way here with Blackburn, finishing second in League One to earn a spot in the second tier. Paul Hurst almost did the same, falling at the final hurdle with Shrewsbury and ultimately taking at the leap via a job change.

To have two foes facing up against each other is going to be fascinating, neither side are tipped to be amongst the play off hopefuls, but both will feel the should just about have enough to keep away from the bottom three.

Whilst all eyes will be on the likes of Frank Lampard at Derby, or on big-spending Forest, clashes such as this will help define the shape of the Championship as a whole.

Here's four big talking points ahead of the Tractor Boys taking on the Latics this weekend

Life without big Mick has got to be the biggest talking point from the game. He had become something of an institution at Portman Road and despite leaving before the end of last season, this will be the first campaign in a long while in which he hasn't had influence on the Ipswich squad.

Paul Hurst is one of the exciting breed of young managers coming out of the non-league game and working his way up, but his first competitive game could go some way to demonstrating how green the grass was on the other side of the McCarthy fence.

Many Ipswich fans wanted him gone, but was it the right move? This will be their first chance to see if the future is indeed brighter post-Mick.

There's little doubt Dack was the driving force behind Rovers' promotion and how he adjusts to life in the second tier will very much define how their season goes. In terms of an opening fixture, the only way this game could have been more attractive is if it had been at Ewood Park.

If Dack can assert his influence on the second-tier, Blackburn might be in for a good season and there's no better place to start than against a side with a new manager and different approach to their previous campaign.

Keep an eye on Dack, an opening day goal or assist will light the fuse for an explosive season.

There's been a big change up front for Ipswich, David McGoldrick has moved on and Martyn Waghorn could well do the same. Links have been made with Kayden Jackson and they've signed Ellis Harrison, but how will the new-look strike force gel?

If the Waghorn move doesn't go through, he'll likely get the nod, but if he's sold by the time the game kicks off, how will Hurst choose to line up? Can the former Bristol Rovers man Harrison offer a potent enough threat to bring them points?

A good striker is key to any sides progression and last season Blackburn had one in Adam Armstrong. Danny Graham chipped in with a few, but the Newcastle loanee certainly made a mark in League One.

Graham will be 33 less than a fortnight into the new season, and he looks likely to be leading the line for Rovers this weekend. Will he still have enough in the tank to make a noise in the Championship?

He once scored 38 in two seasons with Watford, but his last four Championship seasons brought a total of just 26 goals.