By Tony Moss, NFL Editor -- (Sports Network) - The Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants will be in uniform Thursday night for the first time since last season's ultimate triumph, as Eli Manning and company visit the Detroit Lions in the 2008 preseason opener for both teams.

A little more than six months removed from their stunning 17-14 upset of the previously unbeaten New England Patriots, the Giants have some immediate concerns to address on the defensive side of the football. Gone are ex- starters such as defensive end Michael Strahan (retired), safety Gibril Wilson (to Raiders), and linebackers Reggie Torbor (to Dolphins) and Kawika Mitchell (to Bills). The process of filling those gaps will take an important step for Tom Coughlin's team on Thursday night.

Many of the Giants' highest-profile players are expected to see only limited time, including Manning, running back Brandon Jacobs, and wideouts Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.

Burress might not play at all due to a lingering ankle injury, and might be joined on the shelf by Super Bowl hero David Tyree, who has spent the early stages of training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with a knee problem.

Those injuries should spell increased opportunities on Thursday for players such as Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Domenik Hixon, and Brandon London, who are attempting to navigate a crowded depth chart at the position.

Holdover Anthony Wright and newcomers David Carr (ex-Panthers) and rookie Andre Woodson (6th round, Kentucky) should succeed Manning in the lineup at QB.

Also expected to see action is safety and first-round draft choice Kenny Phillips (Miami-Florida), who will be making his first appearance in a Giants uniform.

Lions fans, meanwhile, will be eager to witness the work of an offense that will take on a new look in 2008.

Former coordinator Mike Martz was fired in the offseason, and has been succeeded by Jim Colletto, who is expected to take a more balanced approach to play-calling.

Vying for carries in the more run-focused scheme will be third-round draft choice Kevin Smith (Central Florida) and holdovers Tatum Bell and Brian Calhoun.

Defensively, Detroit will be seeking strong initial returns from a revamped secondary, which includes ex-Buccaneers cornerback Brian Kelly and safeties Kalvin Pearson and Dwight Smith (most recently with the Vikings), as well as former Browns cornerback Leigh Bodden.

The Giants and Lions will be meeting in a preseason game for the first time since 1966, when New York took a 17-7 decision in a contest played in New Haven, CT. Detroit has a 9-4-1 edge in a preseason series that dates back to 1949.

The Giants were 16-10 winners over the Lions at Ford Field last Nov. 18th.