There is plenty of added intrigue in this encounter with brothers Taulant and Granit Xhaka set to face off, the first time this has happened in the European Championships.
The former was born in Basel but represents Albania, while Granit will turn out for the country of his birth ahead of a move to Arsenal.
Albania, under the tutelage of Italian Gianni de Biasi, qualified for the tournament by finishing runners-up to Portugal in Group I while Switzerland did the same, coming second to England in Group E.
Teams
Albania struggled for goals in qualifying, scoring just ten in eight games (including a 3-0 walkover), so it was a surprise when striker Hamdi Salihi was omitted from their squad.
The 32-year-old had scored 28 goals in the Albanian Super League this season, but did not make the cut.
Instead the strength of the team will come in defence with the duo of Amir Abrashi and Taulant Xhaka expected to sit deep in midfield to protect the back four.
Switzerland, meanwhile, have plenty of talent at their disposal, particularly in midfield where Stoke's Xherdan Shaqiri and Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka will run the show.
Juventus full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner will captain the squad but there are injury concerns over Valon Behrami in midfield.
Ones to Watch
Albania: Lorik Cana
The 32-year-old Nantes centre back will captain Albania and is the country's most capped player of all time.
A natural leader, he has spent much of his career in France, with PSG, Marseille and now Nantes.
And on the eve of leading his country to their first major tournament, he admits that playing in his adopted homeland makes it all the more special.
"Representing your country and your people gives you a feeling that is very difficult to describe," he said.
"It's something that makes you proud – especially when you have tried so hard all these years to achieve something big – but at the same time it gives you a sense of responsibility. We will try to show people what we stand for on and off the field, and that starts with me, the captain. I have to be ready.
"And playing in France, which is like my second home – where I spent part of my youth and where I grew up as a footballer with clubs like Paris, Marseille and now Nantes – should be something very special."
Switzerland: Xherdan Shaqiri
Born to Kosovar Albanian parents, Saturday's opener will have particular importance to 24-year-old midfielder Shaqiri.
There are strong ties within the Swiss squad to Albania, but Shaqiri insists the key is to start with a win.
Touted as a potential superstar, Shaqiri has not quite fulfilled his early promise, and after spells at Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, is now plying his trade for Stoke.
But as one of the key figures in the Swiss squad, France 2016 offers him the perfect chance to show why he was so highly-rated as a youngster.
"I told my parents that we would get Albania – and we did," he said.
"It will be a special game for me and for many others, but in the end it's a football game where three points are at stake at a very important tournament.
"That makes it even more special. We have enough experience and we want to win that first game."
Head to head record
Albania have lost five of their six meetings with Switzerland, with the Swiss winning both games during the 2014 World Cup qualifying.
Switzerland have never reached the knock-out stages of the European Championships with their only win coming against Portugal in 2008 once they had already been eliminated, while Albania are making their first appearance at the tournament.
Did you know?
Five members of the Swiss squad are of Kosovar Albanian extraction, while nine players in the Albanian squad were either born or brought up in Switzerland.
Venue: Stade Bollaert Delelis, Lens
Date: Saturday June 11
Kick-off: 15:00 local (14:00 BST)
Sportsbeat 2016
Source: Sportsbeat
