Huddersfield Town defender Jon Gorenc Stankovic will realise a childhood dream by playing against Liverpool in the sell-out Shankly Trophy clash.
But there is disappointment for midfielder Kasey Palmer, who will miss the game as a precaution because of a slight muscle strain.
The pair grew up following the Reds, from Slovenia and South London respectively.
“Steven Gerrard was my idol,” said centre-back Stankovic, 20, who started out as a midfielder before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2014.
“I watched a lot of Premier League football on TV and Liverpool were often featured. At that time, I played in midfield like Gerrard and I wanted to be like him.”
A £600,000 buy, the Slovenian Under 21 international made his first public appearance for Town at Oldham Athletic on Saturday.
He played at the John Smith’s Stadium against Rochdale, but that game was behind closed doors.
Around 21,000 will watch the Liverpool match, and on-loan Chelsea midfielder Palmer will be disappointed to have to delay his debut.
His last game was for England Under 21s in the Toulon Tournament, which Gareth Southgate’s side won.
The 19-year-old enjoyed success with Chelsea’s Under 21 side last season.
He said: “I was on the bench for Chelsea’s Premier League game at Liverpool in May. I was desperate to get on but it never happened. It would have been nice if my first game for Huddersfield had been against them.”
Palmer’s season-long stay at Town wasn’t confirmed until Friday.
He took part in the warm-up at Oldham, but not the game itself.
