Anton Ferdinand and Carlton Cole found the perfect way to warm up for the visit of Liverpool with a special appearance in aid of a good cause at London's Canary Wharf.
As they have done on several occasions this season, the duo, good friends off the pitch, were helping to promote the club's charity partners - this time the outstanding work done by the Richard House Children's Hospice. After signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans, they took time out to talk to WHUTV about their hopes for this evening's crunch encounter against the Reds.
Ferdinand has scored in the last two league games at home and cannot wait for the chance to get back out in front of the Boleyn Ground faithful - especially as the club have not played for ten days. "We have been training, preparing for the game and just looking forward to getting out there. I haven't started in a night game at Upton Park for a long while and I am looking forward to it."
Cole is also in fine form, not least because of his spectacular overhead kick away to Manchester City last time out - although he has since taken some stick for following up his left-foot goal with a celebration of his right-foot! Such a mistake did not go unnoticed in the squad - see Lucas Neill's Captain's Blog from yesterday - and if he does score again Ferdinand is hoping that "when he does celebrate, he polishes the right boot".
Few fans will mind one bit if Cole gets it wrong again against the Reds, because that will mean he has found the net once more - although he is looking to sharpen up his predatory instincts in front of goal. "Hopefully I can get an easy goal, a little tap-in will do like the Tottenham one - that will be a nice way to score."
However, the man who former Hammers defender Slaven Bilic tipped last week for a possible England call knows the challenge facing the team. "Liverpool are going to play some really good football," he said. "But if we can live with their passing, get in amongst them and rattle them a bit, we have a good chance of getting a result."