Town will have several players making their East Anglian derby debuts on Sunday against Norwich — but Jon Walters won’t be one of them and he can even look back on a victory.
Walters came up against the Canaries on four occasions — one victory, one defeat and two draws — during his time at Portman Road and he is now back on loan from Burnley until January after leaving to join Stoke in 2010.
He turned the clock back to his first spell at the club and recalled: "I don’t look back with anything but good memories. It was a good time and a real turning point in my career, coming from Chester to a club that gave me a chance and believed in me. I worked hard, forced my way in and I loved my time here. I hope it will be like that again.
"It’s great that my first game back could be against Norwich. I couldn’t ask for a better game and I just hope I’m involved.
"A win would really kick-start the season for us. I know we’re going into an international break on the back of it and it’s always nice to get three points.
"The stadium will be rocking, as always against Norwich, and I’m really looking forward to it.
"I remember the Norwich games for what they are — full-on, 100 miles an hour and two teams battling it out.
"As a footballer these are the games you want to play in, when the atmosphere is like that and there’s a real edge to it.
"Ever since I left here it’s been like that in every game I’ve played because the Premier League is so sharp and quick. Generally one mistake leads to a goal so you’ve got to be right at it.”
There is a strong parallel between Walters’s move to Ipswich in January 2007 and the summer recruitment drive that has seen manager Paul Hurst make 12 new signings, the vast majority of which have seen players arrive from lower league outfits with ambitions to establish themselves in the Championship, just as Walters was when Jim Magilton paid Chester £150,000 to bring him to Town soon after he impressed in two FA Cup clashes between the clubs.
Walters added: "Hopefully I can help the new lads. I would like to think they will benefit from having someone here who has done it and knows what it takes to do it.
"You need a lot of hard work, dedication and a bit of luck along the way. They are young, hungry players that want to do well but sometimes it takes a little bit of time to settle. It’s still early in the season and let’s hope they grow throughout the year.”
Asked if he had any concerns about Town being able to play their way off the foot of the table, he replied: "From what I’ve seen of the games there hasn’t been too much in it, whether it be a bad decision or just a little bit of sloppiness.
"But there are a lot of new faces, a lot of young lads making the same step-up I did here, and sometimes it can take time to adjust.
"Every single player has a point to prove — and that includes me. I think they’re a really good group and this is a great chance for them. For me the signs are good.
"I can offer them plenty of advice. It’s a step up and every time you go up a league you face different challenges.
"Sometimes the lower leagues are a bit more physical and you don’t get a lot of the ball. When you step up it’s a case of not letting your standards drop and don’t give the ball away when you do get it.
"The Championship can often be end to end, like a basketball game, but you want to stop that and take control.
"I made high demands of myself when I came here and that’s why I did well.
"The aim for every footballer should be to play at the highest level possible and now the new lads here are in the Championship they should be looking to reach the Premier League, hopefully with Ipswich but if not to earn a move like I did.
"They have to remember why they are here — because they are good enough and the manager believes in them.”