Despite being deducted 10 points at the start of last term, the Saints finished just one place and seven points adrift of the play-offs and won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

They have been quiet in the transfer market having signed just three players, although Danny Butterfield should shine at this level and with Rickie Lambert, Lee Barnard and Adam Lallana in the ranks, they will be expecting to justify the tag of favourites.

Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping to put their off-field troubles behind them and secure an instant return to the Championship after their relegation last time out.

The Owls, who have endured the misery of a failed takeover this summer, were recently issued a winding-up petition by Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs.

However, they have signed seven players in pursuit of an instant return to the second tier.

With Paul Heffernan, Neil Mellor and Clinton Morrison boosting an already impressive forward line, which includes Jermaine Johnson and Marcus Tudgay, Wednesday will be expecting to be in and around the automatic promotion places.

Another one of the relegated sides, Peterborough, will also be confident of securing an instant return to the second tier.

The Posh's best piece of business is tying George Boyd to a new contract while they have also made a string of quality signings, including Grant McCann and Mark Little.

With proven strikers Aaron Mclean and Craig Mackail-Smith also staying, boss Gary Johnson will be confident of leading his side to promotion.

Much like last season, Huddersfield go into the campaign full of expectation after making several exciting acquisitions.

Scott Arfield, signed from Falkirk for an undisclosed fee, should add class to a midfield which already includes the tricky Anthony Pilkington, while Gary Naysmith will bring much needed steel and experience to the backline.

Lee Clark's side narrowly missed out on promotion last term, coming up short in their play-off semi-final against Millwall. But, given their purchases, they should go one better and achieve promotion.

Last year's beaten League One play-off finalists Swindon will be hampered by the loss of top scorer Billy Paynter, who has signed for Leeds on a free transfer.

The 26-year-old formed a formidable partnership with mid-season buy Charlie Austin, who also impressed with 19 goals in 29 starts.

However, without Paynter, who proved an ideal foil for the youngster, he and the Robins may struggle to repeat last season's heroics.

Brighton boss Gus Poyet goes into his first full campaign at the helm with big aspirations.

The Seagulls finished a disappointing 13th last term, although Poyet did oversee an upturn in form after arriving in November.

The loss of captain Andrew Crofts, who has signed for Norwich, is a massive blow to the Uruguayan's hopes of promotion.

However, they have made some impressive signings, including Matt Sparrow from Scunthorpe, and should be in the play-off hunt.

It has been a summer of change at Colchester with manager Aidy Boothroyd departing to join Coventry and former Carlisle boss John Ward coming in.

Their biggest blow has been their inability to sign a striker to replace last season's top scorer Kevin Lisbie, who has returned to parent club Ipswich.

In Anthony Wordsworth they have one of the league's best players but without the aforementioned forward they could struggle to forge another play-off push.

Hartlepool go into the new campaign with the unwanted record of having survived relegation on the last day in their previous two seasons.

They avoided the drop on goal difference last time out, although it would have been more comfortable had they not been deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player.

Just one signing, back-up goalkeeper Andy Rafferty, hardly inspires confidence, but a couple of smart acquisitions could see them move towards mid-table.