Chelsea's German international defender Robert Huth is back in action tonight for a reserve side hoping to emulate it's performance last time West Ham were the opposition.
Back in September a strong Chelsea side that contained Huth plus Scott Parker and Glen Johnson travelled to east London and ran out hefty 5-1 winners, Danny Woodards and Filipe Oliveira with two goals each plus a Danny Hollands' rocket.
Huth apart, there are no first team squad players included tonight but Mick McGiven's young second string go into this home game in their best form of the season having won the last three matches, all by a 1-0 scoreline.
The run has moved Chelsea up to tenth in the table, two places above today's visitors to Aldershot who are a point behind. West Ham, coached by Kevin Keen, have lost six and drawn one of their nine away fixtures. In their last game, away at Arsenal, they lost 4-2.
Huth is the only change from the team that beat Norwich last week thanks to a Sebastian Kneissl goal on his return to the team. The young German will again lead the attack with Adrian Pettigrew dropping to the bench to make space for Kneissl's fellow countryman. It will be Huth's first match action in two months having sustained an ankle injury on international duty.
There will be experience in a Hammers' defence that contains Welsh international Andy Melville and Rufus Brevett. Midfielder Chris Cohen is a frequent first team sub while Frenchman Youssef Sofiane spent a month on loan at Notts County earlier this season.
The full Chelsea line-up tonight is:
Lenny Pidgeley, Nuno Morais, Robert Huth, Steven Watt, Sam Tillen, Craig Rocastle, Anthony Grant, Danny Hollands (captain), Filipe Oliveira, Sebastian Kneissl and Danny Woodards.
Subs: Yves Ma-Kalambay, Ed Brand, Adrin Pettigrew, Jimmy Smith and Joe Tillen.
The full West Ham line-up tonight is:
Matthew Reed, Tommy Laws, Rufus Brevett, Andy Melville, Darren Blewitt, Chris Cohen, Youssef Sofiane, Sam Wright, Moses Ashikodi, Greg Pearson and Kyel Reid.
Subs (from): Darren Behcet, Anthony Stokes, Oliver Allen, Jemel Henry, Danny Bunce and David Shaw.
The match will be shown live on Chelsea TV. Broadcasting starts at 6.30pm with Kerry Dixon in the studio and Jason Cundy co-commentating. After the match, Gigi and Kerry hold a phone-in until 10pm looking back on the game and the first team at the weekend.
By Paul Mason