The EFL fixture announcement is now just under 48 hours away, and it's safe to say we can't wait!
The hopes of all fans hinge on that announcement, and we decided to take a look at the opening day of the season to decide who is the ideal side to play in the league's curtain raiser.
Every club is hoping for the same thing; a winning start, but how you achieve that on the opening day is tricky to figure out.
The ideal scenario for most teams is a home game. There's nothing better than starting the new season in front of your own fans with a clean slate. The air of fresh optimism in the air can go a long way to helping you on the way to your first points, and is certainly preferable to a lengthy away day.
But who are the ideal team to face?
In my opinion, the best team to face is a lower-mid table side.
History shows that coming face to face with a recently promoted side is a difficult proposition. Coming up against a side with near-untouchable confidence. Sheffield United, Bolton and Millwall will be fearless in the opening weekend of the season, and certainly a side to avoid in the early weeks until they settle into life in a higher division.
In a similar vain facing one of the Premier League's sides can go either way. Middlesbrough and Hull, who were only promoted in 2016, will be fully aware of how to approach the Championship, and will be determined to make a strong start on their way to challenging promotion. However for a side such as Sunderland, it could be a desirable fixture if their squad is in a state of flux like it may be come early August.
There are a lot of factors to consider going into the opening weekend, but the safest bet has got to be a game against a mid-table team who will be gearing up for a long and hard season, but are unlikely to provide any form of curveball.
