Today they take on champions Manchester United at Old Trafford before playing host to Chelsea in midweek.

Everton visit the Madejski Stadium next week.

Coppell was optimistic his players could rise to those challenges. "We didn't get a result from any of these first three fixtures last year, so whatever we get this year I hope will be better than last.

I'm not saying they are throwaway games and we could play well in all three and still lose, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. And if we pick up points from these games, it is a significant indication that we may have moved up a gear. In many ways I look upon this week as a 'can't lose' week."

Coppell admitted he had no idea how tough the entire campaign would prove to be, despite having had to field endless questions about the pitfalls of 'second season syndrome'. "What is achievement for us? I don't have an answer to that. We will end up wherever we deserve, that's just the way I feel. If we are good enough, we will be up the table, if we're not good enough we'll be relegated.

And if that's the worst thing that will happen so be it."

Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann is set to play despite a broken hand that has seen 16 metal bolts and a plate inserted. "I don't think he's done anything in training in the last week that suggests he is not ready, " Coppell said.

"He has made full saves and wasn't pulling his hand away from anything.

"When he first came back training he couldn't even save a tennis ball, he was still recovering from surgery and here we are six weeks later and people are smashing the ball at him from six yards and he is making saves. So we feel physically he is ready."

Record signing Emerse Fae, the �2.5million capture from Nantes, is not ready but fellow newcomer Kalifa Cisse is in a squad that is missing Leroy Lita, Bobby Convey, Ibrahima Sonko and Glen Little through injury.