The Russian port of St Petersburg will play host on Monday, as Poland get their Euro 2020 campaign underway against unfancied underdogs Slovakia.
However, in the build-up to the summer's main event, Eagles coach Paulo Sousa has seen his preparations badly disrupted by a series of injuries - particularly to some key attacking players.
Though captain and talisman Robert Lewandowski overcame injury to break the Bundesliga goalscoring record at the end of the season, both of his potential strike partners - Hertha Berlin's Krzysztof Piatek and Arkadiusz Milik of Napoli - were ruled out of action before Sousa's squad was finalised.
Along with Atalanta wide man Arkadiusz Reca - who spent last season on loan at Serie A whipping boys Crotone - and Derby County defender Krystian Bielik, the pair must watch from the sidelines as their colleagues bid to surpass the nation's best-ever run to the quarter-finals, which they achieved in France five years ago.
First-choice centre-back Jan Bednarek is a more recent injury doubt, having trained separately from the main group this week, but may yet be able to join former Monaco defender Kamil Glik in the back four. Should the Southampton man be unable to start, then Verona's Pawel Dawidowicz is most likely to take his place at the heart of defence.
Well-travelled midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak is the most probable starter in midfield, meanwhile, with Leeds United's Mateusz Klich and Jakub Moder of Brighton competing for a spot alongside the former PSG man.
Poland's key creative force, Piotr Zielinski could be set to start in a wider role, with license to get forward in support of Lewandowski and Bielik's Derby colleague Kamil Jozwiak.
Poland possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Piatkowski, Glik, Bednarek, Bereszynski; Krychowiak, Klich, Zielinski, Puchacz; Jozwiak, Lewandowski
> Click here to see how Slovakia could line up for Monday's Group E clash
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