Kicking off their brief Australian adventure, West Ham United take on Perth Glory at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
While the Hammers recently returned to action following a successful conclusion to last season, Perth endured another battle near the bottom of the A-League in 2022-23 and remain without a permanent head coach.
Match preview
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Following their Europa Conference League triumph in June, West Ham enjoyed a well-earned if rather short summer break, and having recently returned to training at their Rush Green training facility, a busy pre-season schedule started against Boreham Wood on Monday.
Goals from Danny Ings, Kamarai Swyer, Jarrod Bowen and Gideon Kodua saw a Hammers side without several senior internationals beat their National League opponents 4-1 at Meadow Park.
As manager David Moyes prepares for a season in which West Ham will seek back-to-back continental crowns when they compete in the Europa League, his squad must adapt to life after inspirational captain Declan Rice, who is bound for Premier League rivals Arsenal.
With the Irons' recruitment team working overtime to replace the talismanic midfielder, those still available to Moyes have travelled to Australia, where they will not only play Perth but also contest a London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Just a month remains before they visit to Bournemouth to kick off their 2023-24 campaign, so West Ham's players - particularly those on the fringes or hoping for promotion to the senior squad - will want to showcase their skills to the club's coaching staff.
While the Hammers kept faith with Moyes during times of strife last term - and ultimately to good effect - Perth have endured managerial turmoil: it is now one month since Ruben Zadkovich departed as Glory coach and they are yet to announce his permanent replacement.
The Western Australia outfit are also making their way through pre-season, and having recently reconvened ahead of the upcoming A-League campaign, they first meet West Ham at Optus Stadium, before taking a trip to Darwin, where Macarthur FC await in the Australia Cup playoffs.
Due to the ongoing uncertainty at the club, an interim boss will lead Glory into both games, and academy director Kenny Lowe takes temporary charge once again.
Lowe's first engagement will see his club and their English opponents join together on Saturday to pay tribute to Perth-born Dylan Tombides, a West Ham player whose life was tragically cut short due to testicular cancer at the age of 20.
Last season, Glory finished ninth of 12 teams in the Australian top flight, having ended up rock-bottom 12 months previously, so they will certainly start as outsiders when the Europa Conference league champions come to town.
Team News
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While West Ham will be without Declan Rice, as the England star nears a £105million move to Arsenal, they have seen striker Gianluca Scamacca return to action following an injury-interrupted first year in England.
The Italy international was back in the Irons' XI against Boreham Wood - though there remains much uncertainty surrounding his future - and Conference League final hero Jarrod Bowen, Lukasz Fabianski, Angelo Ogbonna and Danny Ings were also among those involved.
A host of less established players should also make an appearance on Saturday, including 20-year-old Kamarai Swyer, but Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio are unavailable due to being granted an extended break following international duty; absent full-back Ben Johnson was part of England's success at the Under-21 Euros.
Meanwhile, Perth will be captained by ex-Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mustafa Amini, while well-travelled Australia striker Adam Taggart is set to start up front.
Though Keegan Jelacic has joined Gent and teenage midfielder Chris Donnell recently departed for Fulham, a new Glory signing should start in goal, with Oli Sail making his club debut after arriving from Wellington Phoenix.
Earlier this summer, fellow goalkeeper Cameron Cook represented the Olyroos (Australia Under-23s) at the Maurice Revello Tournament - formerly known as the Toulon Tournament - but may now have to make do with a place on the bench.
Perth Glory possible starting lineup:
Sail; Muir, Lachman, Beevers; Ostler, Colli, Amini, Bodnar; R. Williams, Taggart, Zimarino
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Laing, Zouma, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Coventry, Downes; Bowen, Fornals, Swyer; Scamacca
We say: Perth Glory 0-3 West Ham United
As Perth are in disarray - without a permanent manager and having lost several players during the transfer window - an expensively-assembled West Ham squad should make short work of their opponents on Saturday.
David Moyes has spoken highly of some young players at his disposal, and they will also be aiming to make an impact before several senior stars return from holiday later this month.
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Jonathan O'Shea
