Neil McDonald is expecting West Ham United to make it third time lucky when they run out at the Boleyn Ground against Aldershot Town in the Carling Cup tonight.
Having lost one and drawn one in disappointing fashion at home this season, the assistant manager is tipping "a strong team" to do the business and book a second-round date with Carlisle United a week tonight.
He revealed John Carew would be involved with the management likely to mix in established names with some of the brightest prospects at the club. There is also the possibility of George McCartney making his second Hammers bow after his return from Sunderland.
The wet weather at Chadwell Heath failed to dampen the spirits in the lead-up to the game, with McDonald saying the staff had more than done their homework on the likely threat posed by The Shots this evening.
"The preparations have been good," he told West Ham TV. "We had a little review on what Aldershot do although we had that from the last itme we were supposed to play them. The boys will watch that again and we have done work on it.
"We have a good team behind the scenes here and we have had them well watched. We have got lots of footage of them and will show them the utmost respect as we do any other team. We will be well prepared for the things they can and can't do as much as we possibly can."
PAY ON THE NIGHT FOR ALDERSHOT FROM JUST A FIVER
McDonald knew that Shots manager Dean Holdsworth, a boyhood Hammers fan, would have his team raring to go from kick-off at 7.45pm. "They will be up for it. They are coming to a fantastic stadium against a big team. They always rise to the occasion so we have to be on our guard and be ready to go from the start. If not we might get our bottom kicked.
"It is important for us to get the result. We have had the defeat against Cardiff, the draw against Leeds. Hopefully the next one will be a win against Aldershot. It is always special to play under the lights but we have to create the atmosphere and I am sure the crowd will urge the team on."