Leaders West Ham are without captain Kevin Nolan for the visit of second-placed Southampton.
Midfielder Nolan begins a three-match ban for his red card against Millwall last week after Saturday's trip to Peterborough was postponed.
Left-back George McCartney was feeling a tight hamstring in training last week but boss Sam Allardyce expects him to be fit.
Defender Guy Demel has shaken off a thigh problem but will not be risked yet, striker John Carew has a knee knock and midfielder Papa Bouba Diop will be out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury.
Nicky Maynard will be hoping to make his debut after he was an unused substitute against Millwall but fellow deadline-day signing Ravel Morrison will not be involved yet.
Southampton have a virtually full-strength squad for the top-of-the-table clash.
Boss Nigel Adkins was able to welcome back defender Jos Hooiveld after three weeks out with a hamstring injury for Saturday's 2-0 win over Burnley.
That means fellow centre-half Dan Seaborne remains the only absentee as he continues his recovery from the head injuries he suffered in an assault last year.
Former Hammers striker David Connolly will start on the bench at his old stomping ground with Adkins set to stick with Rickie Lambert and Billy Sharp in attack.
Skipper Dean Hammond and fellow midfielder Richard Chaplow could return to the starting line-up after they were rested on Saturday.
Source: PA
