Manchester United boss Michael Carrick expects a far tougher Premier League opener at promoted Hull than many predict.
The Red Devils will attempt to carry on where they left off last season against the unfancied Championship play-off winners on Saturday lunchtime.
Carrick has labelled the suggestion that United have a favourable start to the campaign as "pretty ridiculous" even though their second fixture is a home match against Ipswich, another promoted side.
But last season's third-placed side are heavy favourites to begin their campaign by beating Hull, who will be backed by a packed house and are considered by many an unknown quantity given their swathe of summer signings.
Michael Carrick takes Manchester United to Hull City to begin a new season. Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images "That's the beauty of the new season," Carrick said. "I think certainly for teams coming up in the league, for the most part there tends to be quite a few changes within the group, the playing group.
"It's always the challenge when you're playing against them. There's that freshness, there's that buzz around the football club of coming into the Premier League and what that brings.
"We're fully aware of that. We'll be prepared, obviously, mentally and physically. We've done a lot of work anyway.
"But mentally, we'll be prepared. We know what the game is going to bring and how good we need to be to get the right result."
Hull's core from their unexpected promotion have been supplemented by an eye-catching array of acquisitions, including £20million goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis and big-money centre-backs Lucas Herrington and Nobel Mendy.
United have brought in Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and ex-Tigers goalkeeper Karl Darlow, although work is under way to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba after a positive pre-season.
"I feel good, as you'd expect," boss Carrick said. "Really looking forward to another season. They come thick and fast, so it's about making the most of everything that's in front of us.
"Really encouraged with the work we've done pre-season on the training ground, mostly in the games. I think it's been really good.
"Very much looking forward to the first game and a tough one on Saturday."
Benjamin Sesko is pushing for minutes at Hull having missed pre-season with a shin injury sustained towards the end of last term, while Mason Mount is "touch and go" after a knock.