Sheffield United beat Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate in last season's play-off semi-final, but the Blades suffered a defeat at Wembley. But who will adapt quickest to the managerial changes? Watch the football action live on Sky Sports on Saturday from 5pm; kick-off 5.30pm.
When Sheffield United host Bristol City on Saturday in a match to be televised at 5.30pm, neither team will know exactly what to expect – either from each other or from themselves.
It will be 89 days before last season's play-off semi-finalists meet again at Bramall Lane, but following the sacking of Chris Wilder and Liam Manning's move from west to east to Norwich, there will be a new face on each side in Ruben Selles and Gerhard Struber.
Both managers have experience of working in English football and beyond, but how smooth will their transitions be and are there any signs that their styles will adapt to the new environment?
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Straberball sparks early optimism at Ashton Gate
Some Bristol City outsiders were surprised that there was not the level of excitement around the club last season that one would expect from fans enjoying what was a historic season and a first play-off appearance in 17 years.
However, former manager Manning's philosophy, shaped during his time at City Football Group, has not always resonated in the West of England.
The Robins rivalled the league's best teams for passes in the final third, but lacked players who could provide the same level of incisiveness. As a result, games often felt dull despite their territorial dominance.
Pictured: Gerhard Struber has signed a three-year contract with Ashton Gate.
Even before the first whistle has blown this season, it is clear how much the style has changed. Struber arrived at Ashton Gate having come through the ranks of another conglomerate, the Red Bull franchise. It is not quite Pep versus Klopp, but that is the point.
High pressing, fast and vertical football have always been the hallmarks of Struber's style wherever he has worked. If he stuck to those principles at Barnsley, whom he took over with nine points from 16 games, then there is no doubt he will do the same at Ashton Gate.
Like Manning, his Barnsley team completed the fourth-most passes in the final third during his 11 months there, but the style was very different. Struber's side had the fourth-fewest passes per series – when they got the ball, their aim was not to keep it, but to do something quickly.
That was evident in the Austrian's early performances for the Robins, particularly in Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Real Valladolid, although Sheffield United will be a much tougher test this weekend. Anis Mehmet
Sourse: skysports.com
