Neil Warnock begins his second spell in charge of Crystal Palace on Saturday when they travel to Newcastle United searching for their first point of the season.
The 65-year-old has returned to Selhurst Park to fill the vacancy left by Tony Pulis, after co-chairman Steve Parish snubbed the disgraced Malky Mackay and failed to land Tim Sherwood.
Warnock was a popular Eagles boss between 2007 and 2010, but has been out of work since leaving Leeds United last year and has yet to have a successful run in Premier League management.
He has won just 14 of his 58 top-flight games, was sacked by Queens Park Rangers in 2012 and suffered a controversial relegation while in charge of Sheffield United seven years ago.
His appointment has seen Palace, who have lost their two opening games of the campaign under the stewardship of caretaker manager Keith Millen, brought into second favourites to go down.
Newcastle are not expected to feature at the bottom end of the table following a summer of long-awaited ambition in the transfer market, but they too have yet to taste league victory this season.
They drew blanks in an opening-day defeat to Manchester City, and a draw with Aston Villa last weekend, and needed an own goal to beat League Two Gillingham in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
However, Alan Pardew is confident that his new-look attack will soon find their shooting boots, and may hand good-for-a-goal Siem de Jong a Premier League bow in support of Emmanuel Riviere this weekend.
A niggling calf injury has prevented the former Ajax captain from starting a top-flight match since moving to Tyneside, but there are high hopes for both him and fellow pre-season arrival Remy Cabella.
Moussa Sissoko may be asked to play in a deeper central midfield role alongside Jack Colback, who was called up to the England squad for the first time this week, with Vurnon Anita missing out.
Mike Williamson has served his suspension and should return in place of Steven Taylor in defence, while Yoan Gouffran and Paul Dummett will also likely be recalled as five of the League Cup team drop out.
Chieck Tiote, Davide Santon, Papiss Cisse, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Ryan Taylor remain sidelined, and so youngsters Massadio Haidara and Mehdi Abeid may still be included in the matchday squad.
Palace could hand a start to Dwight Gayle, who scored a hat-trick in their 3-0 victory over Walsall in midweek, in place of Fraizer Campbell up front.
With only two days to prepare for the fixture and no time to bring in his desired new signings, one of whom is Selhurst Park favourite Wilfried Zaha, Warnock may not make major changes, especially with Scott Dann and Joe Ledley injured.
The future of Jason Puncheon is unclear, with he and Warnock having publicly rowed in recent months. Jonny Williams and Barry Bannan are alternative options if Warnock decides not to bury the hatchet.
Newcastle have won their last six games against Palace in all competitions without conceding a single goal.
Recent form
Newcastle: WDL
Palace: WLL
Possible starting lineups
Newcastle: Krul; Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Colback; Cabella, De Jong, Gouffran, Riviere
Palace: Speroni; Kelly, Hangeland, Delaney, Ward; Williams, Guedioura, Jedinak, Bolasie; Chamakh; Gayle
Sports Mole says: 2-1
Joe Fish
