That, of course, reflects the continued need to avoid risking injury to any of the senior players in the final run-in.
Only Shaun Byrne has first team experience with the Hammers, while Raimond van der Gouw and Youssef Sofiane travelled to Southampton with the first team squad on Saturday.
David Noble returns to action from injury to face table toppers Derby, who won the Barclaycard Premier Reserve League South the season before last and just missed out last season.
Hammers: Van der Gouw, A Ferdinand, Blewitt, Byrne, Delaney, Ward, McLenahan, Noble, Pearson, Sofiane, McMahon. Subs: Akinsete, Forde, Laws, M Cole, Tattum, Bunce.
Derby County: Grant, Turner, Palmer, Malloy, Mills, Ivatt, O'Halloran, Murray, Robinson, McLoud, Twigg. Subs: Dean, Camp, Cassidy, Hamilton, Kuduz, Wilson.