THE MATCH
Brentford v Rochdale, npower League One, Griffin Park, August 28 2010
THE KIT
Brentford will be in a red and white kit, sponsored by Hertings.
For details on all club partners click here
THE OPPOSITION
Rochdale have just started their first season outside the bottom tier for nearly 40 years, having finally clinched promotion last term.
The Greater Manchester club have for the last generation been a perennial fourth tier club.
But that all changed in May when they were promoted for only the second time in their history by finishing second in League Two.
The Dale have been in the fourth tier since 1974, when they were relegated after winning just two games.
A succession of low finishes followed before a revival at the end of the 1990s and in the last decade that saw them reach the play-offs three times.
They did not need that lottery last time as they finished runners-up to Notts County, clinching promotion for only the second time ever - and first time in 41 years - and ending 36 seasons in the bottom tier.
They started this campaign with two draws, at home to Hartlepool United and away against Brighton and Hove Albion, before losing last week to Colchester United.
The also bowed out of the Carling Cup last night against Birmingham City, despite taking the lead, after knocking out Championship Barnsley in the First Round.
THE MANAGER
Keith Hill took over as Rochdale manager after the sacking of Steve Parkin in December 2006 and has proved to be their most successful in living memory.
The 41-year-old former central defender joined the coaching staff at Rochdale following his retirement, having played nearly 200 games for the Greater Manchester club, and stepped up when Parkin was dismissed.
He was given the job permanently in January 2007 and lead The Dale to an eighth-placed finish.
They went even better the following two seasons, reaching the play-offs - losing in the final to Stockport County in 2008 and the semi-final to Gillingham in 2009.
Last year he lead them to second place in League Two and promotion for only the second time ever.
THE DANGER MAN
Anthony Elding signed for Rochdale in the summer after leaving Hungarian side Ferencvaros.
The 28-year-old, who penned a two-year deal, started out at Boston United and has moved up and down the leagues.
He was a regular goal scorer for Stevenage Borough and Stockport County before a move to Leeds United for an undisclosed fee in January 2008 caused his career to stutter a little.
He scored against The Bees during a loan spell at Lincoln City as he moved around again before joining Ferencvaros in January.
The departure of manager Craig Short lead to his return to England and him joining Rochdale.
THE FORMER BEE
Rochdale do not have any players with Bees connections and not many who were present the last time the teams met.
In February 2009, 18 months ago, Brentford won a top-of-the-table clash at Spotland on their way to clinching the League Two title.
The Bees have six of their squad that day still at the club - Karleigh Osborne, Kevin O'Connor, Marcus Bean, Sam Wood, Charlie MacDonald and David Hunt - and new signing Nicky Adams played for Dale that day.
Saturday's visitors can only call on Scott Wiseman, Joe Thompson and record appearance holder Gary Jones, who is approaching 450 games for the club and already had four goals to his credit this season.
THE BRENTFORD VIEW
Marcus Bean has warned the game against Rochdale will be completely different to Brentford's last match at Griffin Park.
The midfielder, speaking immediately after scoring the winner in a 2-1 Carling Cup victory over Hull City on Tuesday, said it would be more of a battle against the newly promoted side.
And he stressed how important it was for The Bees to pick up their first three points of the season.
"It's going to be a completely different game," said Bean. "That's one thing the boys have got to realise.
"It will probably be a bit more direct than against a team like Hull and we have to be up for the battle.
"If we battle first, our qualities will come out on top.
"We need to take what we have done tonight into Saturday.
"It's key we get our first three points of the season.
"If we play like that every week, most teams won't be able to live with us.
"We played some very good stuff, kept the ball on the floor, something the gaffer [Andy Scott] has been on at us to do, any team will fear us if we play like that."
Click here to see the full interview with Marcus Bean
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For those unable to attend, Billy Reeves and Mark Burridge will be providing commentary on Bees Player.
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By Chris Wickham
