Hull City v West Ham
KC Stadium, Saturday 3pm

Last meeting: West Ham 2-0 Hull (28-01-09) Goals either side of the break from David Di Michele and Carlton Cole earned the Hammers all three points at the Boleyn Ground.

Opposition: If rumours are to be believed Hull manager Phil Brown is on the verge of losing his job, so poor have his side been since they took the Premier League by storm in the first half of last season. Since then there have just been a handful of victories, they survived by the skin of their teeth last year, and they had won just once in eight league games before beating Stoke last week. Add all those up and you get a side penned in for another relegation dogfight.

Danger men: Just one, really. Mercurial Brazilian playmaker Geovanni. Capable of 30 yard screamers, defence-splitting passes and the odd bit of Samba skill, he will be one to watch out for on Saturday.

Did you know? Hull City became the first team in the world to be knocked out of a cup competition on penalties when they were beaten by Manchester United in the semi-final of the Watney Mann Invitation Cup on August 1 1970.

Prediction: Hull 1 West Ham 2

Betting Tip: Carlton Cole, who will return to the West Ham line-up, is a good bet to get the first goal on Saturday. Paddy Power are offering odds of 28/1 for the striker to score first and for West Ham to win 2-1.