Roberto Martinez will be desperate to pick up his first win as Everton manager when the Toffees travel to Norwich City for their opening game of the English Premier League Saturday.
With David Moyes moving to pastures anew at Manchester United, Martinez has been handed the reins of carrying on the tremendous work done by the Scot.
The former Wigan manager will certainly bring a different style of play to Everton, but it remains to be seen if the results will follow.
"It's a really exciting time," Martinez said. "You always work so hard behind the scenes in pre-season and we have been very fortunate because we have worked in different environments in Austria, the USA tour and at Finch Farm. It's been a really intense time but beneficial.
"Everything is looking forward to the start of the campaign and now it is around the corner. The excitement is building up.
"In the position that we are in now, we are desperate to get the competition started. We had as good a games programme as you are going to get by playing Juventus, Real Madrid, Valencia and Real Betis.
"That really tests you and gives you a real sense of information of what we have got in the dressing room."
Martinez, though, will have to deal with some injury issues with Tony Hibbert and Antolin Alcaraz ruled out, while Darron Gibson and Marouane Fellaini are doubts.
Norwich, who will be without the suspended Leroy Fer, have been one of the busier sides in the transfer window and have bought exciting forwards Gary Hooper, who is a slight doubt, and Ricky Van Wolfswinkel and manager Chris Hughton will be ready to unleash a more forward-thinking side.
"Whether you are a player or a coach, you get excited about the return to competitive football," Hughton said. "If you can't get excited about that, then you're in the wrong business."
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Expected lineups: Norwich: Ruddy; Martin, Turner, R. Bennett, Garrido; E. Bennett, Howson, Johnson, Snodgrass; Van Wolfswinkel, Hooper.
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Fellaini, Gibson; Mirallas, Osman, Pienaar; Jelavic.
Prediction: 2-2
