Depends how long the chain is at the start, and if you have a medium or short cage rear mech. It might be OK as it is, or you might need to remove a link. As for replacing the chain, if you change chains often then you don't need to replace the cassette every time - this would cost a fortune! However, if both chain and cassette were quite old then it's likely that you'll need to change both together. Replacing the chain often will prolong the life of the cassette.