Coventry will take on Luton in the Carabao Cup first round on Tuesday, 12 August, in a match that both teams will look at as a winnable cup tie.
Coventry have enjoyed themselves in cup competitions in recent seasons, famously reaching the FA Cup semi-finals two years ago, so another deep run wouldn't be beyond them.
Luton, meanwhile, have got their groove back in League One, and the habit of winning could easily lead them to victory this week.
How the bookies view it: The hosts go in as favourites
As Coventry play in a higher division than Luton, it's no surprise to see them start this match as the favourites with the bookies. BoyleSports have priced a home win at 20/23, while a victory for Luton has been priced at 5/2. The draw, which would send the match straight to pens, has also been priced at 5/2.
Head to head: Advantage Luton
Across the last five meetings between these two clubs, it is Luton who have enjoyed the most success with two wins and two draws. The most famous of those victories came at the end of the 2022/23 season, when the Hatters overcame the Sky Blues in the Championship playoff final. They needed penalties on that occasion – could they be needed again on Tuesday?
Players to watch: Thomas-Asante searching for a better second season
Last summer, Coventry signed Brandon Thomas-Asante from West Brom on the back of the Ghanaian hitting double digits in the Championship for West Brom.
However, his debut campaign at the CBS Arena didn't go to plan, and the 26-year-old only managed to score four league goals in 38 appearances for the Sky Blues. Thomas-Asante will need to perform better this time around, and a match against lower league opposition could be the perfect opportunity to get his campaign up and running.
Looking to help build Thomas-Asante's confidence is fellow Coventry forward, Haji Wright. In his two seasons at the club, the American has consistently produced the goods, scoring 16 goals in his first Championship season and 12 in his second.
If the pair can strike up an understanding this season, then everyone associated with Coventry is a winner.
Predicted line-ups
Both teams are already dealing with injured players, despite the new season being in its early days. Coventry will be without Oliver Dovin and Josh Eccles, while Ben Sheaf is unlikely to be risked after being forced off early at the weekend. Luton are missing Mavelous Nakamba, Tom Holmes and Teden Mengi.
Coventry: Rushworth – Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva – Grimes, Torp, Sakamoto, Rudoni, Wright – Thomas-Asante
Luton: Keeley – Naismith, Andersen, Makosso – Alli, Saville, Baptiste, Lonwijk – Wells, Yates, Clark
Anything else catch the eye?
Luton have had a perfect start to the season in League One, winning both of their matches without conceding a goal. Coventry, meanwhile, failed to score in their opening Championship match against Hull at the weekend. While a Luton clean sheet is unlikely here, a bet on Coventry to score under 1.5 goals at 10/11 with BoyleSports looks like a great price.
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