When the fixtures were released in June, this contest would not have necessarily been picked out as one to mark down on the calendar.
However, that has changed drastically over the course of a few weeks as Crystal Palace were demoted to the Conference League after their appeal against multi-club ownership breaches was unsuccessful, and consequently, Nottingham Forest took their place in the Europa League.
The stakes ultimately are much higher for this match as Oliver Glasner’s side vow to exact revenge, despite Forest’s lack of intervention in the ruling.
You would have to go back to 2011 to find the last time The Eagles defeated Forest, when Palace won 1-0 at the City Ground in the Championship.
Yet, the underlying story surrounding the Forest camp is one of tension, apprehension and uncertainty as Nuno’s job looks in a much more perilous position than ever before during his tenure.
Nuno’s disagreements with owner Evangelos Marinakis and Global Head of Football Edu Gaspar have surfaced and threaten to supplant the narrative of Forest’s improved performances on the pitch.
To pull a result out of the bag at Selhurst Park will not only demand a tactical battle, since an external battle needs to be settled.
And for Forest, perhaps a victory can salvage some hope that their hierarchy will not unravel and those in the dressing room do not come crashing down with them.
Settling friction between supporters
Both sets of fans are well aware of the European situation which crushed the hopes of Crystal Palace by demoting them to the Conference League, and afforded Forest a spot in the superior continental competition.
The Forest faithful witnessed a transformative campaign at the City Ground when even Champions League football was very much in their grasp.
However, when the run-in approached, Forest slipped down the standings to 7th following successive poor results for the standard they had set.
A season with so much progression, but the feeling of a missed opportunity by finishing in 7th circulated.
Now, the Europa League offers them a lifeline to that narrative whereby the positives outweigh the negatives.
The gulf between Europa League and Conference League football is significant when considering the calibre of opposition and comparing the mental and physical load players are subjected to.
Almost instantly after the announcement, Nottingham Forest attacked the market with a largely unseen transfer spree in a matter of days, bringing in several new faces.
Evangelos Marinakis plowed money into improving the club’s personnel and bulked the squad to be equipped for increased demands.
Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze’s official announcement as an Arsenal player is imminent and Palace’s capacity to purchase has become limited throughout the window.
So not only is the ruling inextricably linked to Nottingham Forest who explicitly profit, but the ensuing transfer ramifications on Palace may have sparked some long-standing tension, which may be evident in Sunday afternoon’s atmosphere.
There is also another prominent story circling around The Tricky Trees which Crystal Palace supporters will perhaps exploit to augment the atmosphere in their bid to get three points on the board.
Will behind the scenes tension spill out onto the pitch?
Forest’s opener against Brentford showcased a different style to what the Premier League had been accustomed to last season.
They were receptive to commanding possession and retained the ball for the majority of the game.
The midfielders combined with intricate passes and were feeding into the clinical attackers ahead of them.
It all seemed smooth sailing, and Forest evidently have come bursting out of the blocks for this campaign with a new approach and brimming with quality.
Yet, during Nuno’s media circuit last week, his interview with Sky Sports caught the eye together with his press conference.
He made several candid admissions: his squad needed more additions, their preparation was unsatisfactory, and he hinted that the transfer flurry had been left too late.
He did not explicitly refer to internal conflicts at the time, but this week’s press conference unexpectedly grabbed the headlines and showed how quick things can change in football.
A rift between Nuno and the ownership has developed seemingly through Nuno’s lack of influence in transfers.
The appointment of credible transfer and operational expert Edu Gaspar as Global Head of Football, formerly of Arsenal, seemed a shrewd decision to strengthen Forest’s power in the market further.
But what has emerged is how a fractured relationship is now almost past the point of no return between Edu and Nuno, as per The Athletic.
Evangelos Marinakis handed his manager an extended contract in June as Nuno led Forest to European qualification and an FA Cup semi-final.
Forest’s revival, which consisted of a vastly improved points tally, was catalysed by Nuno’s managerial prowess tactically and he is held to a high regard in and amongst the dressing room.
The players will be well aware of the conflict, while the challenge will be to put that to one side and focus on their duties on the pitch.
The momentum they can carry into the game from Brentford will still be present, but if the off-the-pitch narrative infiltrates affairs on the pitch, it could reduce their hopes of securing the win to further kickstart their season.
Will Nuno wait to hand debuts to new additions?
Although Nuno has expressed his discontent with the board over their pursuits in the market, the club have added substantial quality which will undoubtedly aid the manager and make his job slightly easier.
Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee have joined their England U21 international teammate Elliot Anderson, and seem suitable acquisitions to bolster Forest’s offensive threat in the final third.
Striker Arnaud Kalimuendo has also been brought in from Rennes after his goalscoring form in the French top flight impressed.
They are strong in the attacking department, yet Douglas Luiz is certainly up there for the marquee signing of the window for Forest, albeit on an initial season-long loan.
The former Aston Villa midfielder has been unveiled before proceedings get underway on Sunday and is eligible to play.
The Brazilian will be no stranger to the rigours of the Premier League, but integrating into a new club and getting properly equipped may take some time, and Nuno has options like Ibrahim Sangare to step in.
Dan Ndoye was the only new signing to feature in last Sunday’s curtain raiser, so Nuno will be confident in his existing players to perform once again.
His latest recruits can be integrated and deployed when the time is right, and significantly used much more when Forest have to contend with their Europa League campaign.