Newly-promoted club Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng FC and former Chinese football champions Liaoning Whowin FC will open the 2017 Chinese Super League competitions with a match on Friday, March 3 at the Guiyang Olympic Sports Center in Guiyang, China.

Guizhou is one of two promoted squads from the China League One together with second-division champions Tianjin Quanjian. The team boasts off new imports Nikica Jelavic and Michael Olunga to spearhead their attack this season.

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Jelavic, 31, is a veteran Croatian striker who has shown his wares in England with West Ham United, Everton, and Hull City. He last played for Beijing Renhe in the Chinese League One last season, scoring 15 goals in 29 appearances before being sent on loan to Guizhou this term.

The 22-year-old Olunga is a Kenya international who plays at the forward position. He last played for Swedish side Djurgårdens IF Fotboll before transferring to China earlier this year.

Guizhou is coached by Chinese mentor Li Bing, who was a former Liaoning player. Li's other imports are Egyptian midfielder Ali Ghazal, Dutch midfielder Tjaronn Chery, and Australian defender Ryan McGowan.

Li's squad is a huge underdog this season and the manager is quick to acknowledge it, as per SkySports.

"Say less and do more, we are down to earth and our biggest ambition is to stay in the Super League at the end of the season," Li said.

Meanwhile, Liaoning Whowin is still boosted by the striking pair of former Cologne and Werder Bremen star Anthony Ujah and team captain James Chamanga. The 26-year-old Ujah, a Nigeria international, is in his second season with Whowin while Zambian forward Chamanga, 37, has been with the club since 2013.

Chinese manager Ma Lin is still Liaoning's head coach this term, his third with the squad, while the other imports are Congolese defender Assani Lukimya and Australians Robbie Kruse and James Holland.

Kruse and Holland's acquisitions are key signings for the former China top-flight champions while local striker Yang Xu is a great complement to Ujah and Chamanga, the South China Morning Post noted.

The predicted result is a tough 2-1 victory for Liaoning Whowin.

Guizhou Zhicheng starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Su; Baise, Yang, Lin, McGowan; Fan, Wang, Liang, Pang; Olunga, Jelavic

Liaoning Whowin starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Shi Xiaotian; Lang, Yang, Lukimya, Liu; Sang, Hu, Wang, Zhang; Chamanga, Ujah 

TagsChinese Super League, Chinese Super League 2017, 2017 Chinese Super League, Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng FC, Liaoning Whowin FC