The FA Cup fifth round gets underway with one of only three all-Premier League ties on Saturday lunchtime as West Bromwich Albion host West Ham United.
The two clubs have lifted the trophy eight times between them and perhaps should fancy themselves as an outside bet to taste Wembley glory again this season.
With Chelsea and Manchester City having been the victims of fourth-round giant-killings, the competition is wide open and both may be in a position to take advantage.
Things are looking up for the Baggies, who have lost only once since the appointment of Tony Pulis and moved further away from trouble with a 2-0 win over Swansea City on Wednesday.
While they remain only four points clear of the relegation zone, their form suggests that gap is only going to get bigger and they have enough resources in their squad to balance a committed cup run.
Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce might start making this competition a priority after seeing his side fall off the pace in the race for the European places, following a run of four draws in six top-flight matches.
The Hammers have gone ahead in three of those contests, with the other being a 0-0 stalemate against Southampton in midweek, and Allardyce has admitted that their failure to hold on to leads is costing them.
West Ham's manager will be forced into at least one change from the side fielded at St Mary's Stadium, where goalkeeper Adrian was sent off and replaced by veteran Jussi Jaaskelainen, who will again deputise.
Injury-hit striker Andy Carroll faces another spell on the sidelines and so Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho, whose involvement in the fourth-round win over Bristol City was the subject of much controversy, will continue up front.
The pair of summer signings were joined by Carlton Cole in attack against the Saints, but the rarely-used forward is likely to be back on the bench at The Hawthorns as either Mark Noble or Kevin Nolan return in midfield.
Winston Reid and James Collins are still fitness doubts for the visitors and that could mean Cheikhou Kouyate acting as a makeshift defensive partner for James Tomkins for the third game in succession.
Pulis has fewer selection headaches to ponder and may go with virtually the same side which beat the Swans, although deadline-day capture Darren Fletcher is cup-tied after playing for Manchester United in the third round.
Craig Gardner is in line to take his place in midfield unless Chris Brunt, who has vacated the captain's armband since Fletcher's arrival, is spared the left-back role that he has been asked to perform of late.
Club-record signing Brown Ideye, nearly sold in January, may be starting to find his feet having scored two goals in as many games and will continue to spearhead a West Brom attack also featuring Saido Berahino.
Albion lost this fixture 2-1 in the Premier League in December, but drew 1-1 at Upton Park a month later following Pulis's intervention from the stands.
West Brom:
Form in FA Cup: LDLLWW
Form in all competitions: WDWLDW
Possible starting lineup: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt; Yacob, Gardner; McManaman, Berahino, Morrison; Ideye
West Ham:
Form in FA Cup: DLLDDW
Form in all competitions: DWWLDD
Possible starting lineup: Jaaskelainen; Jenkinson, Tomkins, Kouyate, Cresswell; Song, Noble, Amalfitano, Downing; Sakho, Valencia
Sports Mole says: 1-0
Joe Fish
