The Gaffer
Nigel Adkins. Adkins is Scunthorpe's former physio and took on the manager's job after Brian Laws left to take charge of Sheffield Wednesday in 2006. Scunthorpe won the League One title at the end of his first season and fought hard to remain in the Championship last term, a battle which ended in failure. Yet, despite his initial success and the limited budget afforded him, a section of Scunthorpe's supporters remain sceptical about Adkins' suitability. The record of 26 wins and seven defeats produced during the 2006-07 League One campaign says otherwise, however.

The Danger
Izzy Iriekpen. Leeds were interested in signing the defender before he moved to Scunthorpe last year. Unfortunately for Adkins, he saw little of Iriekpen during the 2007-08 term as injury restricted the former Swansea player to 12 league starts and 18 appearances in all, but the Iron's form improved with him in their rearguard and survival might have been achieved had he remained fit throughout the campaign. Iriekpen does not offer much in the way of goals but Scunthorpe will see his performance as crucial to the outcome of tomorrow's game.

The Form
Adkins' players cannot be accused of surrendering without a fight last season, but their form – home and away – left much to be desired. Scunthorpe won 11 games over the course of the Championship term – four outside Glanford Park – and averaged exactly a goal a game, but the club are likely to be more of a force in League One. It is difficult to read much into pre-season fixtures and Scunthorpe's results during the summer have been mixed. Victories over Brigg Town and Grimsby Town have been countered by defeats to Rotherham United and Sheffield United but Adkins is making confident noises.

The Odds
When Scunthorpe won the League One title in 2007, only two teams claimed victories at Glanford Park. Leeds are therefore a short price tomorrow at 11-10 with William Hill, while 2-1 about the Iron seems generous. Hill's go 11-5 about the opening-day fixture ending in stalemate.

The Whistler
Lee Probert. Refereed Leeds three times last season, twice on the road at Cheltenham and Southend and the entertaining
3-2 victory over Carlisle in April. The Gloucestershire official limited himself to six bookings in those three matches and is not overzealous. In total last term he issued 82 cautions and three red cards but he has not been granted Select Group status this year.