Walsall will go to Crystal Palace tonight looking to cause one of the upsets of the round as their Carling Cup campaign gets underway.
The Saddlers are riding the crest of a nine-match unbeaten run, including the five consecutive wins at the end of last season, and will feel confident of causing a major shock at Selhurst Park this evening.
Palace may have been in the Premiership until three months ago but the two clubs' form could not be more contrasting with Paul Merson's men taking four points from two testing away fixtures so far this season.
That sequence has seen them win at Rotherham on the opening day and squeeze out a hard-earned point at Hartlepool last Saturday while Palace have only one Championship victory to show for their first four outings.
Although player manager Merson is looking to shuffle his team, he is not expected to name a complete reserve side as he did at this stage last year against Sheffield Wednesday.
That resulted in an embarrassing 1-0 defeat and elimination at the first hurdle but the former Aston Villa and England star now recognises the value of progressing as far as possible.
He said: "We shall be there trying to beat Crystal Palace because the more rounds I get through the more money there will be to bring in players."
Michael Standing could be in-line for a return to the first team after coming on as a substitute at Victoria Park and Merson is likely to revert to a 4-5-1 formation to try to stymie his higher ranked opponents.
That will mean a straight choice between Matty Fryatt and Jorge Leitao up front, though Merson will be mindful of the need to keep his teenage striking sensation happy. Fryatt has reportedly attracted a £1 million player plus-cash bid from Gary Megson at Nottingham Forest, in a deal that would take David Johnson to the Bescot Stadium.
Although Merson is desperate to retain his biggest asset he will also be conscious of his financial value and the need to leave sufficient time to find a replacement if he does lose the 19-year-old.
Victory tonight would give him some breathing room and aid his monetary possibilities.
Meanwhile, Michael Hughes should return for the Eagles after missing the lastthree games with a ham-string injury.
Striker Jon Macken (hamstring) is also in contention while midfielder Aki Riihilahti has shaken off a calf injury and could also start.
