Huddersfield Town kick off their 2014/2015 season by hosting Bournemouth on Saturday as Mark Robins and his side look to round off a positive week with three points on opening day.

The Cherries head to the John Smith's Stadium buoyed by their impressive pre-season form and will also harbour similar ambitions of getting off to the perfect start, particularly with testing trips to Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City to come before the month is out.

Watch: Town reporter Doug Thomson on the season opener against Bournemouth

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Town also face a tricky run after their opening clash, with trips to Cardiff City, Reading and Watford all needing to be navigated through in August, making a good start imperative.

Eddie Howe's men will be no pushovers, particularly considering their 10th-placed finish last term, and here are the key three battles which could decide the outcome of the game one way or another.

Callum Wilson v Lee Peltier

Lee Peltier will have his hands full with new Bournemouth signing Callum Wilson
Lee Peltier will have his hands full with new Bournemouth signing Callum Wilson
 

Two new kids on the block and both will be eager to impress their respective managers on their competitive debuts.

Peltier was rewarded for his commanding defensive displays during Town's pre-season with the captain's armband and he will be tasked with marshaling the backline once more on Saturday.

He comes up against a striker who excelled in League One last season and one who will be determined to take his form to the next level in the second tier and help replace the departed Lewis Grabban.

Yann Kermorgant will also cause Town problems with his work-rate and aerial ability but it will be Wilson who Peltier in particular will have to keep a watchful eye on if Town are to keep the Cherries out.

Dan Gosling v Conor Coady

The midfield battle is a key one and this one will be no different as the two new signings go head-to-head
The midfield battle is a key one and this one will be no different as the two new signings go head-to-head
 

Another couple of new signings and the midfield duo's clash could be the most crucial in deciding which side comes out on top.

Coady has been brought in just for that reason, with Mark Robins already alluding to the combative nature of his new signing, something which the Town manager will hope he can use to combat Gosling's strong running in the middle of the park.

Having left Newcastle United in the summer seeking a fresh start, Gosling will now hope to finally display the potential he has never truly realised since his elementary days at Everton after a string of injuries.

Town's own midfield acquisition will have designs on showing he can be just what Town have lacked and instil some much-needed physical presence to the midfield trio. He will need to be to silence a fellow player of top-flight pedigree.

Steve Cook v Nahki Wells

Steve Cook has a reputation for being a no-nonsense defender but Nahki Wells can test that with his pace and movement
Steve Cook has a reputation for being a no-nonsense defender but Nahki Wells can test that with his pace and movement

Assuming James Vaughan is only fit enough for a place on the bench, Wells will lead the line for Town against the Cherries and he will relish the fact he comes up against a defence which conceded 66 goals last season.

To put that into some sort of perspective, only six teams conceded more than that particular tally, with five of those forming the bottom six clubs. Wells may lack the physical presence to worry Tommy Elphick and his partner Cook at the back but his pace and clever movement can.

Cook is probably the more agile of the defensive duo and it will therefore be the talented youngster who Wells will hope to get some change out of in his efforts to find the net on Saturday.

Peltier and Coady's additions give Town a strong core to the line-up but it will prove futile if there is no cutting edge up front and the former Bradford City striker will hope to capitalise on his good form towards the end of last season and prove he can spearhead the attack.