Caltex Socceroos Mat Ryan and Aaron Mooy begin their Premier League campaign for Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend.
A trip to Vicarage Road to face 2019 FA Cup Finalists Watford is the first league assignment for the two Australians as the Seagulls kick off life with new boss Graham Potter at the helm on Sunday 12:00am AEST.
This is the second successive season that Brighton have travelled to Watford on the Premier League's opening day, having lost 2-0 last August thanks to Roberto Pereyra’s double.
All kick off times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time.
NEWS: Mooy joins Caltex Socceroos teammate Ryan at Premier League club Brighton
NEWS: Luongo seals deadline day switch to Sheffield Wednesday
With Mooy on the prowl for his Brighton debut, Massimo Luongo is also in line to make his a maiden appearance in the colours of Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday.
Luongo joined the Steel City club on deadline day from Queens Park Rangers, and could debut when the Owls welcome Barnsley to Hillsborough at Sunday 12:00am.
Meanwhile, Jackson Irvine of Hull City hosts Reading, and Bailey Wright's Bristol City travel to Birmingham City, also at Sunday 12:00am.
In League One, Mark Milligan’s Southend United are in action against Blackpool and Harry Souttar’s Fleetwood Town prepare for the visit of AFC Wimbledon - those fixtures also get underway at 12:00am.
Leckie’s Hertha start campaign in German Cup
While the Bundesliga season doesn’t start for another week, all of Germany’s top clubs are in action in the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) this weekend.
That includes Caltex Socceroos winger Mathew Leckie of Hertha Berlin, who travel to fourth division team Eichstatt at 11:30pm on Sunday.
Fellow Aussie Brandon Borrello and Freiburg will also start favourites as they head to 3. Liga outfit FC Magdeburg on Saturday night at 11:30pm.
Rest of Europe
Defender Milos Degenek is the first Caltex Socceroo in action this weekend, with his Red Star Belgrade returning to Serbian SuperLiga action on Saturday morning (4:00am kick-off).
Red Star welcome Mladost Lucani looking to maintain their 100% start to the new season.
That’s the same scenario for Awer Mabil’s FC Midtjylland, who have won all four of their games in Denmark so far this season.
AUSSIES ABROAD: Degenek's Red Star held in UCL qualifier
AUSSIES ABROAD: Lightning strikes twice for Mabil and Midtjylland
Midtjylland - who were defeated 4-2 by Rangers in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie on Friday morning - are on the road this weekend, taking on Horsens at 12:00am on Monday.
While Mabil’s side are yet to lose in the league, Mustafa Amini’s AGF are still searching for their first win as they do battle with SonderjyskE at 3:00am on Tuesday.
Fellow Australians Zach Duncan and Alex Gersbach could also be part of the AGF squad for the clash.
In the Eredivisie, Trent Sainsbury and PSV Eindhoven face ADO Den Haag on Monday morning 4:00am, and at 1:00am in Austria, James Jeggo’s Austria Wien head to Mattersburg.
Taggart aims to bounce back
Adam Taggart will be looking to extend his lead atop the K-League scorers charts when his Suwon Bluewings take on bottom club Incheon United.
Fellow Caltex Socceroo Terry Antonis is also likely to feature for sixth-place Suwon, who entertain Incheon at 9:00pm on Saturday evening.
Also on Saturday night, Aussie 'keeper Mitch Langerak's Nagoya Grampus welcome high-flying Kawasaki Frontale at 8:00pm in the J-League.
AUSSIES ABROAD: Sainsbury starts for PSV in FC Twente stalemate
SOCCEROOS HEADING HOME: Graham Arnold's side to play Nepal in Canberra
And over in Major League Soccer, Brad Smith’s Seattle Sounders could jump to as high as second in the Western Conference if they can beat New England on Sunday morning, 6:00am.
