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Possibly the opening day game does lack that bit of glamour given that until the end of the 2007/08 season we'd played Stoke in six but it shouldn't be the case and if any game is appropriate for the opening day this is it when you look at what Stoke achieved last season after going up and being expected to come straight back down.
We've not had the best of pre-seasons but who cares? That's over with now, the results counted for nothing and it all starts today. We're starting a long, and tough, journey of 38 Premier League games (no they never did get the 39th game sorted so we won't be going to Japan, China or Singapore to play a league game).
Owen Coyle says there's a belief, let's take that belief to Stoke and into every single one of those games.
A year ago Stoke were tipped for relegation, by the end of the season they'd amassed 45 points, no fewer than 35 of them at home, and ended the season in 12th place, comfortably the highest placed of the promoted teams.
Manager Tony Pulis has found it difficult to strengthen his squad so far during the summer. He's worked hard at trying to bring in an extra striker with West Ham's Dean Ashton one who was linked with them.
The only signing so far is Sunderland's Dean Whitehead who cost them £3 million and he'll be in the side.
They also go into the game with only one home defeat this year, that one a 1-0 reverse against West Ham with a goal from Diego Tristan.
It's very difficult to determine what team anyone is going to put out for the first game of the season. For some clubs this season it will be impossible but Stoke will be one where a more accurate prediction is possible.
They have already indicated that some of their players are certain starters, whilst youngster Ryan Shotton could come in. Definitely out are Mamady Sidibe with a knee injury and Michael Tonge with flu whilst Danny Higginbotham, Abdoulaye Faye and Amdy Faye are all doubtful.
Stoke's possible line up is: Thomas Sorensen, Andy Wilkinson, Leon Cort, Ryan Shawcross, Ryan Shotton, Liam Lawrence, Dean Whitehead, Glenn Whelan, Matthew Etherington, James Beattie, Ricardo Fuller. Subs from: Steve Simonsen, Andy Griffin, Ibrahima Sonko, Tom Soares, Salif Diao, Danny Pugh, Richard Cresswell, Dave Kitson.
Owen Coyle was dealt a big blow on Wednesday with the groin injury to Steven Caldwell. It is not a long term injury but there doesn't look to be much chance of him making it this afternoon. That means Graham Alexander will probably lead out the Clarets.
The situation is made worse with David Edgar serving a one match ban with Burnley not allowed to apply the 'Arry Redknapp suspension rules.
With both Caldwell and Edgar out, and with Michael Duff not having kicked a ball since the baseball pitching area got in his way in Portland, it is likely that Stephen Jordan will play in the centre of defence. Jordan was an almost certain starter at left back but will fill in for Caldwell's absence.
Who will play and who won't? I think our team could be something like: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Stephen Jordan, Christian Kalvenes, Wade Elliott, Graham Alexander, Chris McCann, Robbie Blake, Martin Paterson, Steven Fletcher. Subs from: Diego Penny, Richard Eckersley, Brian Easton, Joey Gudjonsson, Kevin McDonald, Chris Eagles, Fernando Guerrero, Steven Thompson, Jay Rodriguez.
Burnley's last visit to Stoke ended in a 1-1 draw after a late, late controversial decision from referee Howard Webb.
We'd led for most of the game after an early Kyle Lafferty goal, we'd dealt with everything they had to throw at us, but deep into stoppage time Webb gave Stoke the softest of penalties for a push by Jon Harley.
Liam Lawrence hit the post from the spot but Gabor Kiraly, back in the side after the defeat at Hull cost Brian Jensen his place, conceded when the ball came back and hit the back of his head and went in. Had he dived the wrong way they wouldn't have scored.
The teams were;
Stoke: Carlo Nash, Andy Griffin, Leon Cort, Chris Riggott, Danny Pugh, Liam Lawrence, Salif Diao (Jon Parkin 84), Rory Delap, Richard Cresswell, Mamady Sidibe (Paul Gallagher 70), Ricardo Fuller. Subs not used: Steve Simonsen, Andy Wilkinson, Ryan Shawcross.
Burnley: Gabor Kiraly, Graham Alexandra, Clarke Carlisle, Stanislav Varga, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott, James O'Connor, Mark Randall (Alan Mahon 63), Kyle Lafferty (John Spicer 78), Ade Akinbiyi (Andrew Cole 81), Robbie Blake. Subs not used: Brian Jensen, David Unsworth.
Our last ever top flight game at Stoke came on 6th March 1976. We were third from bottom of the league with nine games to go but this one did nothing for our chances.
Ray Hankin scored for Burnley on 37 minutes but by then Stoke had already found the net three times. They added another in the second half and it ended 4-1.
The Burnley team was: Gerry Peyton, Derek Scott, Keith Newton, Billy Rodaway (Tony Morley), Colin Waldron, Jim Thomson, Colin Morris, Ray Hankin, Paul Fletcher, Brian Flynn, Mike Summerbee.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
1990/91 | FAC | h | 2-0 | 12,949 | Francis White |
1992/93 | 2 | h | 0-2 | 16,667 | . |
| . | . | a | 1-1 | 21,840 | Randall |
1994/95 | 1 | h | 1-1 | 15,331 | Davis |
| . | . | a | 0-2 | 13,040 | . |
1997/98 | LC | h | 0-4 | 4,175 | . |
| . | . | a | 0-2 | 6,041 | . |
1998/99 | 2 | h | 0-2 | 10,575 | . |
| . | . | a | 4-1 | 10,965 | Pickering Payton Little(2) |
1999/2000 | 2 | h | 1-0 | 11,328 | Payton |
| . | . | a | 2-2 | 15,354 | Payton(2 1pen) |
2002/03 | 1 | h | 2-1 | 14,244 | Gnohere Papadopoulos |
. | . | a | 1-0 | 12,874 | West |
2003/04 | 1 | a | 2-1 | 14,876 | May Chadwick |
| . | . | h | 0-1 | 12,812 | . |
2004/05 | C | h | 2-2 | 12,981 | Moore Blake(pen) |
. | . | a | 1-0 | 15,689 | Cahill |
2005/06 | C | h | 1-0 | 17,912 | Akinbiyi |
| . | . | a | 0-1 | 12,082 | . |
2006/07 | C | a | 1-0 | 12,247 | Gray |
| . | . | a | 0-1 | 12,109 | . |
2007/08 | C | h | 0-0 | 11,758 | . |
| . | . | a | 1-1 | 18,432 | Lafferty |