Middlesbrough will be aiming to secure a positive result in their showdown with West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides have managed to engage in some transfer activity ahead of this clash.
Boro have bolstered their squad by securing the services of Liam Roberts, Zack Steffen, Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Giles this summer.
West Brom meanwhile will be able to turn to Jed Wallace, John Swift and Okay Yokuslu for inspiration this weekend after signing this trio on permanent deals.
Having missed out on a play-off place earlier this year, Boro will be keen to launch a push for promotion under the guidance of manager Chris Wilder in the coming months.
West Brom will also be looking to challenge for a place in the Premier League this season after experiencing an underwhelming 2021/22 campaign.
Middlesbrough will be unable to call upon the services of Paddy McNair in this upcoming clash due to suspension.
Ahead of Saturday's game, Carlton Palmer has revealed that he believes that Boro could seal a narrow victory over his former side West Brom.
Speaking to Football League World, Palmer said: "Both teams will be looking to improve on last season, both teams will be looking to get promotion.
"Steve Bruce is a very, very good manager, he knows what he's doing, he knows how to get promotion and so does Chris Wilder at Middlesbrough.
"Defensively, West Brom were very, very strong last season, I expect them to be exactly the same this season so that would make for a very, very tight game.
"I don't think there's two ways about it, I think it's a very, very tight game so, you know, it could go either way.
"If I had to go anywhere, I would probably go with a narrow victory for Middlesbrough at home, if I had to go anywhere.
"But I would think a draw, not sitting on the fence, I would think a draw would be a favourite with the bookies and given that both sides have done a lot in the summer in the transfer market and both will be there or thereabouts I would assume around the top six, top seven.
"So, for me, I think either a draw or a narrow 1-0 victory for Middlesbrough."
The Verdict
When you consider that both teams are able to call upon the services of players who excelled at this level during the previous term, it could turn out to be an enthralling affair at the Riverside Stadium this weekend.
For Boro's sake, they will be hoping that Isaiah Jones and Matt Crooks are both firing on all cylinders in this particular fixture.
Jones provided nine assists from his wing-back position last season whilst Crooks managed to find the back of the net on 11 occasions in all competitions.
Providing that Boro do go on to seal a victory in front of their supporters, they could use the momentum gained from this result to their advantage during the opening stages of the new term.