Two sides coming off the back of contrasting Capital One Cup results meet on Saturday when West Ham United entertain Southampton in the Premier League.
Ronald Koeman record his first win as Saints boss as they beat Millwall 2-0, but the Irons were upset by Sheffield United on penalties the same Tuesday evening.
Sam Allardyce is not one of the more popular managers that Upton Park has seen, and a second-round cup exit to a third-tier team will do nothing to improve his relationship with a group of fans who have seen their club go without a major trophy for 34 years.
West Ham have at least made a decent start to their league season, winning 3-1 at Crystal Palace last week after suffering an unfortunate loss to Tottenham Hotspur in an eventful London derby.
Southampton have yet to taste victory in the top flight this term, having been narrowly bested by Liverpool on the opening weekend and held to a stalemate by West Bromwich Albion at St Mary's Stadium.
An attack that has lost the likes of Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert, and is without Jay Rodriguez due to long-term injury, looked blunt against the Baggies, but Koeman's recruitment is showing promise.
Dusan Tadic has shown glimpses of magic, while Graziano Pelle opened his Saints account with a midweek strike.
Allardyce has also been active this summer in an attempt to make his forward line more potent, and his new signings enjoyed mixed League Cup fortunes as Diafra Sakho scored his first goal in English football, before £12m Ecuadorian World Cup star Enner Valencia missed the decisive spot kick.
Sakho could have earned himself a start ahead of Carlton Cole for this weekend, while Mauro Zarate will continue in the number 10 role, with captain Kevin Nolan having been ruled out for six weeks.
Injury denies James Collins, who has served his suspension, a return at centre-back and so James Tomkins will again partner Winston Reid. Matt Jarvis, Andy Carroll and Carl Jenkinson remain sidelined.
Koeman insists that Jack Cork and Gaston Ramirez are staying at Southampton amid speculation over both of their futures, but neither is likely to come into the side for the trip to the Boleyn Ground.
They will likely have to settle for places on the bench alongside new arrivals Shane Long, Saphir Taider and Florin Gardos, while Morgan Schneiderlin is expected to start in midfield as time winds down on his desired move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Southampton have won just once on their last eight visits to West Ham - a 1-0 triumph in December 2002.
Recent form
West Ham: DWL
Southampton: WDL
Possible starting lineups
West Ham: Adrian; O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Kouyate, Noble; Downing, Zarate, Vaz Te; Sakho
Southampton: Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Bertrand; Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Davis; Tadic, Ward-Prowse, Pelle
Sports Mole says: 1-2
Joe Fish
