Powell is looking to get off the mark quickly with his new charges and a home game against a side placed just five positions and two points above the Terriers could be considered the perfect opportunity to claim maximum points at the John Smith's Stadium for the first time since March 1.
Town went down 4-2 in a thriller at high-flying Watford just before the international break in a game which was indicative of their season so far, as they controlled a lot of the play but were let down by some slack defending against one of the Championship's top strikeforces.
Conceding goals is a problem which has spilled over into this term, with four of Town's seven fixtures so far seeing the opposition side plunder three goals or more, something which has to be halted against Boro.
But the Teessiders will hope to improve defensive and general form of their own after back-to-back league defeats, culminating in a 1-0 home loss to Reading a fortnight ago.
Boro completed deals for three players on deadline day and two are expected to start in Yanic Wildschut and Jelle Vossen, while four other summer signing - including former Town midfielder Adam Clayton - are also expected to take part this weekend in a new-look outfit.
But can Town capitalise while the plethora of new faces take time to gel? Boro have scored just six goals so far - the same tally as Town - but the difference between the two teams is marked when assessing the goals against column, with Powell's men having conceded over twice as many as their weekend visitors' six.
Here are the three battles which could decide the meeting with Aitor Karanka's side as the Championship campaign resumes.
Mark Hudson v Kike
Town's new defender could have his hands full with Boro's chief marksman
Town's sole piece of business on transfer deadline day, but what an inspired addition he could prove to a Town defence which has looked worryingly fragile, even during Mark Lillis' galvanising interim tenure.
If he does make his debut on Saturday, he can expect a tough test against a £2.7m striker who has already found his feet at this level, scoring on his first start against Birmingham City as well as a late winner at Bolton Wanderers and a goal in the 3-0 Capital One Cup win at Oldham Athletic.
Kike is the physical spearhead to the Boro attack and one that likes to become involved in the play to bring the cast of tricky players behind him into the game.
He combines a solid physical frame with a feather-light touch and is equally adept in the penalty area with both feet and his head so it promises to bring the immediate best out of the former Cardiff City captain.
He will be wary of affording too much space to the Boro frontman but must remain wary of those around the Spaniard too and it places a huge importance on his organisational skills and discipline.
Jacob Butterfield v Adam Clayton
Jacob Butterfield and Adam Clayton go head-to-head after switching clubs this summer
The one battle everyone will be looking out for is between the two players who traded these two clubs over the summer.
Intriguingly enough, it is Butterfield who has arguably had the bigger impact of the two so far since the swap deal took place, with a goal in Town's solitary win at Reading backed up by an assist from a corner for Murray Wallace's goal in the defeat at Watford.
It was his corner, too, which led to Wallace's other strike this season at Cardiff City and no other player has managed to set up more of the club's six goals so far, while only the Scottish central defender and Harry Bunn have netted more goals.
Clayton, by contrast, has been overshadowed by Grant Leadbitter's early-season form at the heart of midfield, with the captain scoring twice from the spot in the win at Bolton and twice in defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
But with Clayton surely hellbent on showing what Town have let go, don't be surprised to see a upsurge in energy and performance levels from the 25-year-old this weekend; Butterfield must ensure his own supersede in a unique rivalry.
James Vaughan v Kenneth Omeruo
Can James Vaughan get the better of one of Boro's many Chelsea loanees?
Omeruo is proving to be a hit on Teesside after returning for a second loan spell with the club after a successful first stint during the latter half of last season.
He has started the season brightly and has been the sole constant in an ever-changing Boro backline so far this season since coming on for Ben Gibson in the season opener against Birmingham City after just four minutes.
And perhaps that has been one reason behind his and the club's defensive struggles of late, an uncertainty over his central defensive partner which is something that could feasibly extend into tomorrow's game with Gibson and Daniel Ayala vying for the other central position.
So Omeruo, you would feel, is the key man back there for Vaughan and possibly Wells to breach if they are to reap any sort of rewards up front.
Vaughan showed plenty of endeavour up front for Town with regular runs into the channels and will look to do the same on Saturday, but it is difficult to escape the belief that he would fare even better with a partner in the mould of Wells in attack.
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