For Sean Dyche it was his first away game in charge of Burnley and opposite number Mick McCarthy was experiencing his first home game in charge of Ipswich.
Both have done good jobs but McCarthy is currently the subject of some speculation regarding the vacant Republic of Ireland job, a position he held up to the 2002 World Cup Finals after which he returned to club management with Sunderland.
Ahead of tomorrow's game, speaking about that speculation, he said: "I'm not going to get caught up in all that nonsense. I know the questions will come from the press but the only thing that concerns me is Burnley on Saturday. That's all I'm concentrating on."
He knows the Burnley side well. He signed four of our players when he was manager of Wolves and he added: "They have two very good strikers in Danny Ings and Sam Vokes, who have been scoring a lot of goals. They are well organised and work very hard.
"They don't concede many either and if you are scoring at one end and stopping them going in at the other, that's a pretty good recipe for success.
"Our home form has been very good, their form has been very good so it should be an entertaining game."
Sean Dyche has had two weeks with some of his players since the last game, the win against Reading which allowed us to remain top through the international break.
Speaking about Burnley's record at Portman Road, just one win and that in January 1970, he said: "What has gone on in the past can't affect what will happen in the future, so we'll just look to be prepared and ready to go.
"Ipswich have a good home record, but we have a good away record and this is no different than any other we have faced. It's a tough game, but we have supplemented our home form with some fantastic performances away from home, so there is a good balance to what we are doing.
"There are big challenges out there from everyone you play and the next one is Ipswich. They have had a slight imbalance to their season so far, doing really well at home and perhaps not quite getting the results they will have been looking for away.
"Any club in the Championship fancies themselves at home and Ipswich are no different, so we have to go there prepared to give a good performance. It's all about mentality, whoever you are playing.
"No matter who and where we are playing, I make it clear to the players that the pitch, the ball and the goals are all the same size. There are only 11 others out there, home or away.
"We think we have a mentality to go away and search for wins and that's what we will do again."
He admitted that the break for the international programme was welcome. "I think it's been an enjoyable break after going into it following a good win against Reading," he added.
"Being top of the league has given everyone a feel-good factor and I felt there was a need for a rest this time, whereas the first international break came early in the season and players were still in fine fitness.
"Since then, the same players have largely ended up playing, so this one was a bit different and a good chance for the players to have a break physically.
"We've tried to find that balance between hard work on some days and a deserved rest for the players. We think we have found the right balance, but we'll find out when the whistle blows."