After a summer of intense transfer activity on Wearside, only three members of today's starting line-up - Trai Hume, Dan Ballard and Eliezer Mayenda - also kicked off Sunderland's play-off final win over Sheffield United in May.
Robin Roefs makes his competitive debut in goal, with Reinildo Mandava getting the nod to start at left-back after joining as a free agent following his release from Atletico Madrid. Having impressed in pre-season, Jenson Seelt has been selected to partner Ballard at centre-half.
Sunderland's midfield trio is comprised entirely of new signings, with new skipper Granit Xhaka selected alongside Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra.
That means Enzo Le Fee finds himself on the substitutes' bench, alongside former skipper Dan Neil and Patrick Roberts.
Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi will start in the wide attacking positions for the [Black Cats](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland), with Mayenda chosen to lead the line ahead of Wilson Isidor and Marc Guiu.
_SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Roefs; Hume, Ballard, Seelt, Reinildo; Sadiki, Xhaka, Diarra; Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra._
_Subs: Patterson, Neil, Rigg, Le Fee, H Jones, Guiu, Alderete, Roberts, Isidor._
_WEST HAM (3-4-1-2): Hermansen; Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd; Wan-Bissaka, Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez, Diouf; Paqueta; Bowen, Fullkrug._
_Subs: Areola, Mavropanos, Walker-Peters, Scarles, Soucek, Alvarez, Irving, Potts, Wilson._