Bolton boss Owen Coyle expects Fulham and Mark Hughes to be a winning combination this season.
It has been a difficult summer for the Cottagers following manager Roy Hodgson's defection to Liverpool and the search for his successor which only ended with the appointment of Hughes at the end of July.Watch Bolton Wanderers vs. Fulham Live Stream August 14 Barclays Premier League 2010
"There is no doubt that he will mould that team the way he wants, but he will also recognise that he has inherited some very good players from Roy.
"So when you put the combination together, Fulham will show everyone this season again that they are a quality side.''Watch Bolton Wanderers vs. Fulham Live Stream August 14 Barclays Premier League 2010
Hughes has a tough act to follow after Hodgson led the Londoners to unprecedented success last term by taking them to the Europa League final.
Coyle defied the odds at his previous club Burnley as the Clarets reached the Carling Cup semi-finals and promotion to the Premier League in 2008-09, and the Scot feels Fulham's exploits in Europe have demonstrated what smaller clubs can achieve if all the right factors come together.
"What it shows you is that if you have the belief and a group of players who are prepared to work - and sometimes the bounce of the ball goes your way - then it can be achievable,'' Coyle said.
"I've been fortunate enough to be involved in some dressing rooms like that myself - we did it at Burnley where we played 61 games that season with something like 16 players because we were embargoed and couldn't sign a player from January onwards.
"Fulham had a terrific season (in 2009-10) and I think all clubs in that area would look at Fulham and think 'they are a similar-sized club to ourselves - that is achievable'.
"It is, but you need the belief and the quality to back it up.''
Zat Knight is in line to face his old club after recovering from a hip problem.
Knight sat out last week's friendly against Osasuna but is available to play against his former employers.
New signing Martin Petrov has impressed in pre-season and is set to make his debut.
Meanwhile, Hughes has set his sights on the ambitious signing of Manchester City's want-away striker Craig Bellamy.
Hughes is determined to add more depth to his squad as he attempts to match the lofty ambitions at Craven Cottage following his appointment as Hodgson's successor this summer.
Hughes had previously said that he thought Bellamy would be out of his price range but he now seems keen on landing the former Liverpool man.
When asked if he would be interested in signing the striker, Hughes responded: "Yes. He was one of the top players in the Premier League and if he comes on the market, and if we're in the position where we can conclude a deal for Craig Bellamy, then yes we would be very interested.
"At the end of the day the way the situation seems to be forming for Craig that Manchester City won't use him at Premier League level, so from Craig's point of view it is very important that he makes the right decision for his career because a wrong decision at this point in time could hurt him, so I wish him well in what decision he takes.''
Hughes has so far been unable to land any of his transfer targets although he hopes to conclude a deal for AZ Alkmaar striker Moussa Dembele.
Dembele's transfer, which is thought to be in the region of £5million, would be a welcome after Andy Johnson's knee injury meant that Fulham had to rely on makeshift striker Zoltan Gera to partner Bobby Zamora up front last season.
Hughes was at the Premier League on Thursday trying to secure a work permit for the Belgium striker, who had also attracted the interest of Birmingham.
"We have made some progress with Moussa,'' said Hughes. "We hope that he will be in London by the close of play to do a medical, although it hasn't been fully signed off by his club yet.''
One man who will not be travelling to the Reebok Stadium is defender Philippe Senderos. The Swiss defender, who arrived on a free transfer this summer, has been ruled out for upto eight months after picking up an Achilles injury in training this week.
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