Both Watford and West Ham have injury concerns ahead of their Premier League clash at Vicarage Road on Saturday evening.
Andy Carroll is a doubt for the Hammers with a groin problem but Slaven Bilic has confirmed he could feature from the bench.
For the hosts, Sebastian Prodl, Valon Behrami and Craig Cathcart will all need to be assessed ahead of kick-off due to various ailments.
West Ham used their free week to head to Dubai for warm-weather training and they will hope to extend their solid run of form upon their return to league action.
Bilic's side have lost just one of their last five matches in the competition, although that was a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Manchester City.
Team news
Christian Kabasele is sidelined by a calf muscle injury for the Hornets, while Prodl and Cathcart are both doubts. Behrami has been carrying a hamstring problem, so will also be monitored.
Nordin Amrabat (ankle) and goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon (ankle) also continue their rehabilitation.
Carroll is doubtful for West Ham but Aaron Cresswell is fit after a hamstring niggle and Andre Ayew is in contention for the first time since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Angelo Ogbonna (knee) and Diafra Sakho (back) remain long-term absentees.
Opta stats
After a run of just one win in 22 league games against the Hammers, Watford have won two of their last three against them - including a 4-2 win at the London Stadium back in September.
West Ham have never lost back-to-back league games against Watford in their history.
The Hornets have won three of their last four Premier League meetings with West Ham, though two of those wins have been away from home.
Watford's 2-0 victory in this exact fixture last season ended a run of 11 league games without a win against West Ham at Vicarage Road.
Carroll has scored 49 Premier League goals in 177 appearances; with 29 of those goals coming for West Ham. He has scored five times in his last six league starts.
Tom Cleverley has created 10 goalscoring chances in five apps for Watford in the Premier League; two more than in his previous 27 appearances for Everton (8).
Manuel Lanzini has scored two goals and provided two assists in his last five top-flight games for West Ham, this after a run of seven games without a goal or an assist.
Watford have seen players from 19 different countries represent them in the Premier League this season; a joint-high alongside Sunderland.
Troy Deeney (103 goals) - who has scored three goals in his last four Premier League appearances - is just two goals away from becoming the joint-third highest goalscorer in Watford history alongside Cliff Holton (105 goals).
Watford have named the oldest starting XI on average in the Premier League this season (29y 301d).
Merson's prediction
This is a hard one to call. Watford are doing well and West Ham have some great results every now and then. They are both pretty inconsistent over the season. There isn't a lot to split these two, so I have to go for a draw.
For me, they are both safe from relegation. I don't think Watford get enough credit because really, they should be fighting the drop.
MERSON PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Both sides are considered long-priced outsiders to be dragged into the relegation battle at 28/1 and 250/1 respectively.
Deeney is 6/1 to score the first goal of the game while Mauro Zarate for the visitors has been price boosted to 9/1 from 6/1 to do the same.