Cardiff are expected to be without Tony Capaldi, while Southampton striker Stern John is suspended.
Bluebirds missing Capaldi; John suspended
Cardiff are expected to be without midfielder Tony Capaldi, while Southampton striker Stern John is suspended.
Northern Ireland midfielder Capaldi pulled up with a strain during the Bluebirds' tour of Portugal to leave him a major doubt.
Darren Purse and new signing Miguel Comminges should be named in Dave Jones' starting XI after impressing in the pre-season campaign.
And new signings Ross McCormack, Darren Dennehy and Mark Kennedy are all set for their competitive debuts after arriving over the summer.
Striker Jay Bothroyd should start alongside Steven Thompson in attack as the Bluebirds go in search of promotion after their FA Cup heroics last season.
Southampton news
Saints kick-off the new Championship campaign at Ninian Park without last season's leading goalscorer John.
The Trinidad & Tobago striker was sent off during Saints' dramatic last-day escape from relegation against Sheffield United and serves a one-game ban.
Centre-half Andrew Davies is also missing after undergoing a knee operation over the summer but Michael Svensson returns to the rearguard for the first time in almost three years following successful knee surgery.
New signings Paul Wotton, Lee Holmes and Morgan Schneiderlin will be in line for debuts while youngsters Lloyd James and Adam Lallana could also be involved.
Marek Saganowski has joined Danish side AaB on loan so rookie striker David McGoldrick's eight goals in pre-season should be enough to earn him a start.
