Hull City will be a force says Huddersfield Town manager Chris Powell

Observers say optimism is in short supply on Humberside.

But Huddersfield Town manager Chris Powell reckons his side’s opening-day Championship hosts Hull City will be strong this season.

The KC Stadium faithful are coming to terms with second-tier football after two seasons in the Premier League.

And the transfers of Tom Ince and Stephen Quinn to divisional rivals Derby County and Reading respectively, has done little to lift spirits.

Then there’s the controversial name-change bid, with a ruling on the proposed Hull Tigers moniker imminent.

Hull, who take on Town on Saturday, August 8, currently have just 20 senior professionals on the books.

Three of those – Nikica Jelavic, Dame N’Doye and Abel Hernandez – look unlikely to stick around.

Dame N'Doye has been linked with a move to several Premier League clubs (Image: Action Images via Reuters / John Clifton)

A further two – Robert Snodgrass and Mo Diame – will miss the start of the season through injury.

And England midfielder Jake Livermore, an £8m signing from Tottenham Hotspur a year ago, is suspended for allegedly failing a drugs test.

Bookies, however, still have Hull down among the favourites to win the league (they are 8/1 with several).

Their former Town manager Steve Bruce, currently with his squad in Portugal, is seeking a fourth promotion from the Championship.

And Powell said: “Hull will be a strong side in a competitive league.

“They have played Premier League football for the last two seasons, and they still have some very good players, and it would be a surprise if there aren’t any new faces by the time we play each other.”

After a fortnight in Portugal, Hull will play friendlies at North Ferriby United and Chesterfield. They then head to Austria to face Germany’s Hannover 96 and UAE team Al-Ain before a final warm-up game at Sheffield United.

Time Line

Huddersfield Town's 2015/16 Championship fixtures

Hull City (A) 08/08

Last meeting: Hull City 1-0 Huddersfield Town (Capital One Cup)
Blackburn Rovers (H) 15/08

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 2-2 Blackburn Rovers
Brighton and Hove Albion (H) 18/08

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Brighton and Hove Albion
Fulham (A) 22/08

Last meeting: Fulham 3-1 Huddersfield Town
QPR (H) 29/08

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 1-1 QPR
Cardiff City (A) 12/09

Last meeting: Cardiff City 3-1 Huddersfield Town
Charlton Athletic (A) 15/09

Last meeting: Charlton Athletic 3-0 Huddersfield Town
Bolton Wanderers (H) 19/09

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest (H) 26/09

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Wolves (A) 03/10

Last meeting: Wolves 1-3 Huddersfield Town
Ipswich Town (A) 17/10

Last meeting: Ipswich Town 2-2 Huddersfield Town
MK Dons (H) 20/10
Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 1-2 MK Dons (Football League One Play-offs)
Derby County (H) 24/10

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 4-4 Derby County
Burnley (A) 31/10

Last meeting: Burnley 3-2 Huddersfield Town
Reading (A) 03/11

Last meeting: Reading 1-2 Huddersfield Town
Leeds United (H) 07/11

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 1-2 Leeds United
Sheffield Wednesday (A) 21/11

Last meeting: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Huddersfield Town
Middlesbrough (H) 28/11

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 1-2 Middlesbrough
Birmingham City (A) 05/12

Last meeting: Birmingham City 1-1 Huddersfield Town
Bristol City (H) 12/12
Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 1-0 Bristol City
Rotherham United (H) 15/12

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 0-2 Rotherham United
Brentford (A) 19/12

Last meeting: Brentford 4-1 Huddersfield Town
Preston North End (H) 26/12
Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 3-1 Preston North End
QPR (A) 28/12

Last meeting: QPR 2-1 Huddersfield Town
Bolton Wanderers (A) 02/01

Last meeting: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Huddersfield Town
Charlton Athletic (H) 12/01

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Fulham (H) 16/01

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 0-2 Fulham
Brighton and Hove Albion (A) 23/01

Last meeting: Brighton and Hove Albion 0-0 Huddersfield Town
Cardiff City (H) 30/01

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 0-0 Cardiff City
Preston North End (A) 06/02
Last meeting: Preston North End 2-0 Huddersfield Town (Capital One Cup)
Nottingham Forest (A) 13/02

Last meeting: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Huddersfield Town
Wolves (H) 20/02

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 1-4 Wolves
MK Dons (A) 23/02
Last meeting: MK Dons 0-2 Huddersfield Town (Football League One Play-offs)
Ipswich Town (H) 27/02

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 2-1 Ipswich Town
Derby County (A) 05/03

Last meeting: Derby County 3-2 Huddersfield Town
Reading (H) 08/03

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 3-0 Reading
Burnley (H) 12/03

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 2-1 Burnley
Leeds United (A) 19/03

Last meeting: Leeds United 3-0 Huddersfield Town
Sheffield Wednesday (H) 02/04

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Middlesbrough (A) 05/04

Last meeting: Middlesbrough 2-0 Huddersfield Town
Hull City (H) 09/04
Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 0-1 Hull City
Blackburn Rovers (A) 16/04

Last meeting: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Huddersfield Town
Rotherham United (A) 19/04

Last meeting: Rotherham United 2-2 Huddersfield Town
Birmingham City (H) 23/04

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 0-1 Birmingham City
Bristol City (A) 30/04

Last meeting: Bristol City 1-3 Huddersfield Town
Brentford (H) 07/05

Last meeting: Huddersfield Town 2-1 Brentford