Preston North End Vs Huddersfield Town Match Preview
Capital One Cup First Round Monday 13th August 2012
Venue: Deepdale
Kick-Off: 19:45
Referee: Robert Lewis (click here for referee stats)
Betting Odds: Preston 15/8 Huddersfield 7/5
After a summer of upheaval and intense preparation, the first competitive game is upon us.
Although, rather unusually, it is the first round of the League Cup that acts as the curtain raiser for the 2012/2013 and the visit of Huddersfield Town, rather than the opening league fixture.
The Terriers finally broke their play-off duck and, as a result, will be considered the favourites being a Championship outfit.
North End, on the other hand, will just want to start the season positively.
A victory over Simon Grayson's side would be considered a scalp by some and perhaps rightly so as the West Yorkshire side haven't lost in the League Cup first round in five years.
Previous Meetings
Huddersfield's last visit to Deepdale was of course at the tail-end of last season in a game which saw Graham Westley pick up his 3rd win as North End gaffer.
Chris Robertson netted the winner midway through the second half to seal a 1-0 win for the Lilywhites.
North End's trip to the Galpharm didn't end quite as well, however.
A Jordon Rhodes hat-trick saw the Terriers 3-0 up inside an hour to seal a rampant victory.
Juvhel Tsoumou pulled one back but it proved to be scant consolation for a floundering and injury hit Preston North End side.
Team News
Apart from Thorston Stuckmann, the sole survivor from last season, the remaining 10 players plus substitutes will make their competitive debuts for the Lilywhites.
These could include Chris Beardsley and Joel Byrom with the former Stevenage pair's deals being announced at the end of last week.
Stuart Beavon, Akpo Sodje and Steve Simonsen are all rumoured to be heading for the PNE arrival lounge but are not likely to feature until Colchester at home on the 18th.
The Terriers will have to make do without a handful of key players including star striker Jordon Rhodes.
Last season's League One top scorer has been added to the full Scotland squad for the Tartan Army's friendly with Australia on Wednesday.
Also set to miss out due to international commitments are Murray Wallace (Scotland U21), Sean Scannel (ROI U21), Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland) and Joel Lynch (Wales).
Played for both (click here)