Carling Cup second round
West Ham United v Macclesfield Town
Boleyn Ground
Wednesday 27 August
7.45pm
Referee: Clive Penton
WHUTV - Full audio commentary
Background
* Alan Curbishley will have strong squad at his disposal for the visit of League Two opponents Macclesfield Town on Wednesday. The tie must be played to a finish on the night with extra time coming into play if nothing separates the sides at full time. Should the score still be level after 120 minutes, then penalties come into play.
* The winners will go into Saturday's draw for the third round.
* It is only the second meeting of the two clubs with the first coming in an FA Cup third-round tie at Moss Rose back in January 2002. West Ham United won 3-0 thanks to two goals from Jermain Defoe and a Joe Cole strike.
* Reserve-team manager Kevin Keen spent two seasons at Macclesfield between 2000 and 2002, playing 62 games. He began his coaching career at the club and played in that FA Cup match against West Ham United.
* Curbishley said: "They're going to try to make it as difficult as they can. We know that and we've got to make sure we overcome that. Being a Premier League side that's what we've got to do. I'm sure they will relish the chance of knocking a Premier League side out of the cup. They are a big side, play three at the back, decent on set-plays and work ever so hard. We know we've got a game on our hands."
* The manager has named the same 18 players in his matchday squad for the first two games this season.
* West Ham United have twice reached the final of the League Cup, in 1966 and 1981.
* Dean Ashton has six goals in five pre-season matches while in competitive league matches he has struck seven goals in his last ten appearances.
* West Ham United, with a win and a defeat to date this campaign, are next in action at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, the same day as Macclesfield, without a win in their first three games, welcome Darlington.
Last time out
Sunday 24 August - Manchester City 3-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Behrami, Davenport, Upson, Neill, Faubert, Parker, Noble, Etherington (Boa Morte 74), Ashton, Cole (Sears 31, Mullins 46)
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Reid, Bowyer, Spence
Saturday 23 August: Accrington Stanley 2-0 Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town: Brian, Reid, Morgan, McDonald (Walker 70), Hessey (Green 63), Deen, Tolley (Hadfield 86), Thomas, Bell, Gritton, Evans
Subs not used: Yeo, Rooney
Team news
* George McCartney is set to play some part after recovering from a virus that followed a hamstring injury. Craig Bellamy is also close to a return - but is more likely to feature on Saturday against former club Blackburn - having been absent since a hamstring problem in a pre-season friendly at Ipswich Town on 4 August.
* Carlton Cole is fit to play if selected after overcoming a back problem that caused him to be substituted on Sunday.
* James Collins and Nigel Quashie have continued to progress in full training. Collins has not played since mid-January when he suffered a knee ligament injury while on reserve-team duty. Quashie last played for the second string back in December and has had a persistent foot injury.
* James Tomkins and Jack Collison should be back next month after knee problems suffered on England U19 duty and training respectively.
* Jonathan Spector should be back at Chadwell Heath in September to continue his rehabilitation from hip surgery. Kieron Dyer is also continuing his personal training programme as he bids to return from his double leg break. Danny Gabbidon is the main long-term absentee with his abdominal problem.
General information
For ticket information, click here. For details of getting to the Boleyn Ground, click here
Weather: The forecast is for an clear evening. The temperature is set to peak at around 22C.