- West Ham United v Burnley - follow LIVE text commentary
- Franco form pleases Zola
Yet the Lancashire team have been labelled as a team there for the beating all season and have revelled in defying those judgements so Owen Coyle's men will travel to the capital with their own hopes of victory.
The Hammers have looked an improved side of late, losing just one of their last five Premier League games, although last weekend's 3-3 thriller with Hull City suggested defensive frailties, albeit ones which manger Gianfranco Zola was quick to play down.
"Maybe we could have handled it better when we were 2-0 up but I have to say (Hull) came back really well," Zola commented after the match.
"At the end of the day we have got a point and it could have been more because we had a couple of chances to get another goal."
The match included a second goal in less than a month for Guillermo Franco, whose form has come as a relief for Hammers fans who are preparing themselves for the loss of star striker Carlon Cole, despite Zola's belief that the England man will stay.
"I know Carlton wants to stay and is happy here. The club has no intention of selling him or any of our important players," the Italian stated in the Sun this week.
Cole and Franco will continue to lead the line against Burnley in the absence of Alessandro Diamanti, although the Italian is recovering well from a thigh problem and could make the bench.
Kieron Dyer and James Tomkins could also make the squad as they return from similar minor injuries.
Source: DSG
