Ipswich could look unrecognisable from last season, Sunderland almost identical, and there might well be nothing between two teams with radically different recruitment ideas.
Promoted Ipswich have potential changes in every position, starting at the top with Gary O'Neil taking charge after Kieran McKenna's four-year tenure came to an end.
O'Neil has overseen a £100m-plus player investment programme which could see him give up to 10 debuts from the start or off the bench against Sunderland at Portman Road on Saturday.
Sunderland, in contrast, are pretty much as you were with boss Regis Le Bris clearly thinking after guiding the Black Cats to seventh spot and back into Europe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Ipswich Town v Sunderland Tips Summary
Best Bet - Draw @ 23/10
Alternative Bet - Enzo Le Fee 1+ Shots on Target @ 5/6
Bet Builder - Granit Xhaka To Be Booked, Leif Davis 1+ Shots, Robin Roefs 3+ Saves @ 14/1
Ipswich Town v Sunderland Prediction
Best Bet: Draw @ 23/10
It's easy to swing both ways with this one. To be seduced by bright and breezy attack-minded Ipswich laying on a feast for a rocking Portman Road and putting Sunderland in their place.
Or to be hooked on the idea that Sunderland, who finished seventh last season by putting any number of noses out of joint, are going to do it again.
The reality could lie somewhere in the middle. Expect Sunderland to nullify Ipswich in the way most Championship sides couldn't, but expect Ipswich to avoid defeat on their return to the Premier League.
The pragmatic choice is the draw with this ultimately turning into quite a cagey encounter.
Alternative Bet: Enzo Le Fee 1+ Shots on Target @ 5/6
Enzo Le Fee was among many unheralded heroes in the Wearsiders' ranks last season, the Frenchman chipping in with five goals and six assists in a campaign to remember.
The 26-year-old Breton has also had a good pre-season, scoring three goals and looking fresh after a World Cup-free summer.
Le Fee became a huge player for Le Bris last season and will be again playing in the three off Brian Brobbey.
He averaged 1.1 shots per game with 13 on target but got better as the season went on. More confident 12 months on, Le Fee can have a big game at Portman Road and muster at least one effort on target.
Ipswich Town v Sunderland Bet Builder Tip
Granit Xhaka To Be Booked
Leif Davis 1+ Shots
Robin Roefs 3+ Saves
Pays 14/1
Granit Xhaka is not quite the monster midfielder he once was, the player who racked up 18 yellows and two reds in a single season in 2014/15.
Or the player who amassed 14 yellows and two reds in his first season with Arsenal a couple of years later.
But even last season the teak-tough Sunderland warrior still managed to get his name taken nine times for his new club plus twice more for Switzerland at the World Cup.
And he will always be a presentable option to be booked, in this case as the first leg of a Bet Builder.
Xhaka's indiscipline is as renowned as Leif Davis' love of bombing forward down the left side, the full-back mustering 23 shots last term.
Davis loves a crack and should be taken to get away one or more shots.
Robin Roefs, based on last season when the classy Sunderland keeper was a busy man, should also be called upon to make saves. He averaged 3.1 per game last season so have him to make at least three on Saturday.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Ipswich have lost their opening game in each of their last four Premier League campaigns
Sunderland signed off last season with two straight wins - they last won three in a row in October 2024
Ipswich are unbeaten in their last 18 home games since a 3-0 loss to Charlton last October; they have won 12 and drawn the other six during that 18-game sequence
Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs made 109 saves in 35 games last season; only Burnley's Martin Dubravka (127) made more
Ipswich had 15 draws in the Championship - only Leicester (16) won more
Sunderland won 138 corners at 3.6 per game in the league in '25/26; only Wolves won less than that
Sunderland were the first team since Burnley in 2017/18 to finish in the Premier League's top seven with a negative goal difference
Sunderland scored 17 away goals last season - only Wolves (8) scored fewer on the road
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
