By: Phllip Torres

SANTA CLARA-The San Francisco 49ers will open up their preseason schedule against the team that defeated them in the Super Bowl two years ago, the Baltimore Ravens, on Thursday night.

The title hungry 49ers are looking to get off on the right foot as they look to open up the preseason victorious.

Other than the Super Bowl rematch, it will also be the third meeting against the Harbaugh brothers, Jim and John. John Harbaugh has one the previous two meetings. Although this matchup is not an official matchup that will go on the career records of these two respected coaches, it will certainly bring bragging rights between the two brothers.

For San Francisco, the starters are not expected to play more than a series or two each. All eyes will be on first round pick Jimmie Ward, and second round pick Carlos Hyde.

Hyde will get a good look as he is looking to make an immediate impact for the team that drafted him so highly in this past NFL Draft. With Kendall Hunter out for the season with a torn ACL, and Marcus Lattimore not yet cleared to play, Hyde has an opportunity to shine early and earn some serious playing time backing up the 30-year-old phenom Frank Gore.

Gore, the franchise’s All-Time rushing leader will receive most of the workload during the season, but will sit most if not all of the preseason.

Colin Kaepernick will also try and build some early chemistry with new wide receivers Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd.

Both new wide outs are looking to help improve to the passing attack that ranked 30th in the league last season.