THEIR starting eleven at Bracken Moor should, barring a catastrophic rash of injuries, bear little resemblance to the one which emerges from the tunnel at St Andrews next month.
But the strategies Sheffield United hope to employ against Stocksbridge Park Steels this evening will provide a series of clues as to how Kevin Blackwell's side plan to approach the new Championship campaign.
Having attempted to ensure players from the first-team, reserve and junior squads all boast broadly similar levels of fitness by performing an in-depth review of Bramall Lane's conditioning department, the United manager is adamant they must share the same tactics too.
"Pre-season games are important, "Blackwell, whose players completed their whistle-stop tour of Europe with a 4-1 victory over Helmond Sport on Saturday, said.
"Because you want to get your pattern and shape all sorted out by the time the competitive games start.
"It let us down a couple of times (against Helmond) and so we still need to do some work on that but it's to be expected.
"That's what we'll be using the friendlies we have left for.
"To help people settle in, to try one or two things out and to make it absolutely clear what we expect from everyone when they set foot on the pitch.
"It's important that we're all singing from the same hymn sheet because if someone comes into the first team I want to transition to be as smooth as possible.
"That's why they've got to be of a certain standard physically and also aware of the systems and ideas we are going to be using at this level."
With United only returning from Holland on Sunday, the majority of the players who featured at the Stadion De Braak are likely to miss the now traditional annual fixture against their Unibond League neighbours.
But Sun Jihai, one of Blackwell's two summer signings so far, could be included if disciplinary chiefs declare him available for selection following his red card against KVK Tienen.
"He needs to get fitter as he has found the running hard so far," Blackwell continued.
"But that is understandable because he is a week behind everyone else."
With Sun and Greg Halford, United's other major close-season capture, already safely installed, Blackwell's preparations for the trip to Stocksbridge have been dominated by his search for a new striker.
Darius Henderson, United's preferred choice to fill the void created by Rob Hulse's departure, now appears almost certain to leave Watford with the Hertfordshire club willing to listen to offers of around £2.5m.
Born in Doncaster, the former Gillingham and Reading marksman could be tempted by the possibility of a move back to his native South Yorkshire but the situation has been complicated by the fact that at least two other Championship teams are understood to be courting his signature.
Blackwell has refused to confirm or deny his interest in Henderson but it is inconceivable that he has not compiled a list of alternatives should the 26-year-old prove elusive.
Hulse's switch to Derby has been delayed by a slight muscle strain the forward received at United's Dutch training camp but, having agreed personal terms during talks on Friday at Pride Park, the paperwork is due to be rubber-stampted shortly.
Stocksbridge PS v Sheffield United XI, tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.Normally, any man spotted skulking around Merseyside sporting day-glo pink trousers could earn himself a stern word or two: CLICK HERE TO READ JAMES SHIELD ON THE BRITISH OPENWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 638 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
