A Summer of many changes at Spotland has thankfully not been the Summer of Turmoil that it could so easily have been, and with such the Dale support seems a generally satisfied bunch going into the new season -  the second season in succession, where supporters head into the new season hopeful for the forthcoming ten months but without any real expectations.

All the noises coming out of the club seem to be spot on. There's no outlandish statements coming from the management about what this club can achieve this season, but rather Eyre and his sidekick Bunn are looking to continue the progress made not just for this season, but for seasons to come.

The new signings look to come with pedigree and in some cases glowing reports of jealousy from those that have missed out on their signatures, and those who chose to pursure their careers onwards and upwards may not be the absences we feared they would be.

As you'd expect, it's a different picture at at Hillsborough for the coming season, where hopes and expectations remain equally high, and things haven't been dampened by last weekend's 14-0 hammering at the hands of Alfreton Town last weekend. They seem significantly stronger this time round, with a number of key signings over the Summer.

Those expectations could work to our favour Last season's game at Hillsborough saw the home supporters unsettled very early in the game as Dale knocked the ball about, and there's no doubt that the majority of the home supporters this weekend will see this as a game against little old Rochdale rather than against a side that finished six places ahead of them last time round.

Team News:

Dale head to Sheffield Wednesday with arguably the biggest collection of injuries that we've had in a while, though the overall picture certainly looks brighter than it could have been.

The main concern for Dale supporters will be the fitness of Chris O'Grady. The former Oldham man has been troubled by a dodgy heel that he first suffered in the pre-season tour to Gibraltar, and it's kept him out of the last three pre-season friendlies. However, the news is looking positive on O'Grady's front, and given Wednesday's interest in acquiring him in recent weeks, you'd have to think that should he be fit enough to start, then the script will be written.

Joey Thompson is another who is returning to the first team picture, having missed pretty much all of pre-season with a slipped disc injury in the first couple of days of training. However, he has recovered and is likely to be on the bench for the trip to Hillsborough.

Definitely ruled out are the trio of Brian Barry-Murphy, Simon Hackney and Reece Gray. BBM will miss the trip to his former club thanks to a torn cartilage and he's not expected back in the first team picture until September. Gray is ruled out with a broken hand, whilst Hackney is expected to miss the next six weeks with an abdominal strain picked up in training.

One possible inclusion could be trialist Jason Jarrett. He has yet to sign a deal with the club but this could be rushed through to allow him to take part in the game on Saturday.

From a Wednesday perspective, Jermaine Johnson will be a massive blow to Gary Megson's plans having picked up a knee injury last week. Megson blew his top when news of this injury leaked out via a fans' messageboard during the week, with the former Bolton man threatening recriminations on the culprit should he be found.

Wednesday signed a young striker from Arsenal on a season long loan on Friday, and he'll go into the squad for this weekend's game. His name is Benik Afobe, and he was on the scoresheet against us last season in a loan spell at Huddersfield.

Last Ten Four Meetings:

Sheffield Wednesday win: 10-11

Draw: 11-4

Rochdale win: 7-2

First Goalscorer odds: