Melbourne vs. Manchester City: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info

Manchester City's pre-season preparations got underway, in part, on Tuesday when they beat Adelaide United 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors warm-up game. However, this weekend sees them play their first proper friendly of the summer when they take on sister club Melbourne City in Melbourne as part of the Australian leg of the International Champions Cup. 

It's the first match between these two sides—an historic moment for the City Football Group. 

It offers Manuel Pellegrini an opportunity to assess his squad's current fitness levels and begin trying out new ideas ahead of the 2015/16 season. It will also see City's men's team wear their new Nike home shirt for the very first time. 

"

ICYMI: Have a sift through the new @MCFC 2015/16 home kit gallery... http://t.co/KT8xxCin2W #mcfc pic.twitter.com/zAKE1DCOfD

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 4, 2015"

Date: Saturday, July 18

Kick-Off: 8 a.m. BST, 3 a.m. ET

TV Listings: Fox Sports 

Live Stream: Fox Sports 

"

Win tickets to this weekend's Gold Coast clash between @mcfc and @MelbourneCity! Head to http://t.co/f9z6ra6CS7 pic.twitter.com/c49k7boxmm

— Cityzens (@Cityzens) July 16, 2015"

Form Guide: (last five league fixtures)

Melbourne City

Melbourne Victory 3-0 Melbourne City 

Wellington Phoenix 0-2 Melbourne City 

Adelaide United 4-1 Melbourne City 

Perth Glory 3-1 Melbourne City

Melbourne City 0-0 Wellington Phoenix

City

City 2-0 Southampton

Swansea 2-4 City

City 6-0 QPR

Tottenham 0-1 City

City 3-2 Aston Villa

Jon Super/Associated Press

Predicted Formations:

Predicting team lineups is difficult at the best of times, but it is particularly problematic during pre-season when managers are notoriously experimental. The likelihood is there will be huge changes at half-time, too, but here goes. 

Melbourne City: (4-3-3) 

Velaphi; Hoffman, Chapman, Kisnorbo, Garuccio; Paartalu, Melling, Mooy; Gameiro, Novillo, Williams. 

City: (4-2-3-1)

Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, Clichy; Fernando, Toure; Sterling, Silva, Nasri; Dzeko 

Players to Watch:

Melbourne City: Patrick Kisnorbo 

Former Leeds United and Leicester City defender Patrick Kisnorbo, 32, looks set to be one of the key players in the Melbourne City squad ahead of the new A-League campaign. 

Kisnorbo is an experienced defender who has 18 caps for Australia. Since returning to Melbourne, he's made 26 appearances and led the team with distinction. 

Rick Rycroft/Associated Press

City: Raheem Sterling 

Who will feature in this match is very much up in the air given it's the first game of City's pre-season calendar, but their fans will be hoping to catch a glimpse of Raheem Sterling, the club's new £49 million man. 

"

What are the odds!? @mccarthy_mcfc meets a local who once actually played against @sterling31! #WelcomeRaheem https://t.co/pJ6VWcVOJE

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 16, 2015"

Sterling, 20, has huge potential, and he is a player full of pace and willingness to get on the ball and create. It's an exciting transfer for City. 

He arrived in Australia on Thursday having signed for City a day earlier. 

"

.@sterling31 arrives at the team hotel where he will meet his new colleagues for the first time. #WelcomeRaheem pic.twitter.com/8pvfu0AEWj

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 16, 2015"

Key Battle: Aaron Mooy vs. Fernando 

Signed from Western Sydney Wanderers, Aaron Mooy scored seven league goals in his debut campaign for Melbourne City last season. 

The former Bolton Wanderers and St. Mirren man is a star player in the Melbourne setup and will need close attention.

Fernando, who has a lot to prove at City after a difficult debut season at the club, will be the man best-suited to nullifying him, if selected on Saturday. 

The former Porto midfielder struggled to repeat the form he showed in Portugal at times last season but will feel much better prepared for life in the Premier League after a year of experience. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015-16 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.