Who gets a run against Rovers? Our writers pick their starting XIs
Sun d e rl a n d a re back i n League One action tomorrow.
But who will play in the opener against Bristol Rovers? Here, our writers pick the team they would name...
Mark Donnelly
While the midweek victory over Aston Villa will have undoubtedlygivenPhilParkinson some extra food for thought, I can't see the squad changing too drastically from that which dominated against Hull City.
I've made just two changes from that side. Lee Burge has earned the opportunity to start the season as the club's number one, while Parkinson looks unlikely to stray away from his favoured back three of Jordan Willis, Bailey Wright and Tom Flanagan. Out wide, Luke O'Nien and Denver Hume allbut pick themselves.
In the middle, newly-appointed captain Max Power looks assured of a start and it would be a major surprise if he were not partnered by Josh Scowen given his stunning display in midweek.
Further up the field, Aiden O'Brien and Chris Maguire showed enough against Hull to warrant their inclusion.
Up front, I've gone with Charlie Wyke. His two-goal midweek haul was impressive and, with Will Grigg in form andDannyGrahamnowonthe scene, he has a point to prove.
Sunderland XI: Burge; Willis, Wright, Flanagan; O'Nien, Scowen, Power, Hume; Maguire, O'Brien; Wyke.
After defeat to Hull City, Parkinson discussed how his preferred 3-4-3 system had shifted slightly to a more attacking 3-5-2.
It's a pattern we've come to see a lot at the Stadium of Light and there's no reason to think it's likely to change in the coming campaign. A forward who can make runs beyond the defence is key and from what we've seen so far, Will Grigg looks the best bet.
Charlie Wyke was superb against Aston Villa U21s but despite a penalty miss, Grigg's application and threat means he is surely worthy of another opportunity to build on what looked like a promising partnership with Aiden O'Brien.
Much of the rest of the side, at this stage at least, seems to pick itself. Josh Scowen could not have done any more to stake his claim with a tremendous display against Villa's youngsters, meaning Max Power returning to a more withdrawn role.
It's a partnership that is surely worth exploring.
Sunderland XI: Burge; Willis, Wright, Flanagan; O'Nien, Power, Scowen, Hume; Maguire, O'Brien, Grigg.