Ryley Towler comes into the starting line-up as City compete in the second tier for the first time in 65 years.
Towler came off the bench in last Saturday's Carabao Cup win at Derby County, with Rob Street coming out of the starting XI to make way.
Saturday's match at the Riverside Stadium is the first time the Imps have featured in a second tier game since April 1961, with City's last outing at this level a 2-0 win over Leyton Orient at Sincil Bank.
A full Imps allocation of around 2,200 fans will be at the match, with the entire 32,000-capacity stadium sold out.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Towler, McGrandles, Jefferies, House, Hamer, Varfolomeev, Elerewe, Draper. Subs: Gauci, Coubis, Hackett, Bayliss, Melia, Street, Olaofe, Elder, Honohan.
