Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark says Barclays Premier League matches "don't come any better" than their home match against Manchester United on Friday (Aug 13).
The centre-back played the entirety of their 2015/16 season opener, as they began the BPL campaign with a 1-0 victory at debutants AFC Bournemouth, courtesy of Rudy Gestede's 72nd minute header.
And Clark is relishing the opportunity to face Louis van Gaal's side, who kicked off the Barclays Premier League season with a 1-0 triumph against Tottenham Hotspur, under the floodlights at Villa Park.
Clark told avfc.co.uk: "It's Man Utd. It's the first home game of the season. We're back at Villa Park. It's a sell-out under the lights. I'm not sure it can get much better than that.
"You've got all the makings of a great game and I'm sure the fans can't wait for it.
"The lads are the same. We love playing at Villa Park. It's obviously an amazing stadium and there's something special about matches there in the evening. It's just got that something extra."
Villa will start a top-flight campaign with back-to-back wins for the first time since 1999/00 if they beat Man Utd, but Clark expects a tough test.
"United are one of the favourites for the title but we're determined to go out there and show everyone that we're a good side that can do well this season.
"It won't be easy but there's a real focus and drive in the squad, with some talented new faces, and we want to really go out and impress."
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood, who will be without attacking duo Carles Gil (hamstring) and Jack Grealish (ankle), was captain of defending champions Blackburn Rovers the last time Villa won a BPL home match against Man Utd.
That victory came when a youthful United side, who put a host of academy graduates - including David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt - into the first team picture after being pipped to the title by Blackburn in 1994/95. They started the following campaign at Villa Park with a 3-1 loss, but have not tasted defeat in away matches against Villa since.
While history is on Man Utd's side, the fixture also brings the best out of captain Wayne Rooney, who has scored 13 goals in BPL matches with Aston Villa, his best return against any team.
United manager Louis van Gaal will be without the suspended Marouane Fellaini and Phil Jones, out due to mild thrombosis.
Sergio Romero is set to continue in goal after keeping a clean sheet on his United debut, while Bastian Schweinsteiger's declaration that he is returning to full fitness this week will give Van Gaal further cause for cheer.
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