Spanish striker Pablo Couñago is Town's only injury concern ahead of Wednesday's play-off second leg at home to West Ham. The Spaniard injured his groin in Tuesday training and is considered a serious doubt.

If he fails to make it, Couñago, who is set to leave Portman Road when his contract is up in the summer, will probably be replaced on the bench by young winger or striker Dean McDonald.

Full-back Fabian Wilnis picked up a slight knee injury in the first leg at Upton Park, but will start at Portman Road, almost certainly back in his more usual right-back role.

Jason De Vos was very tired after Saturday's game and has rested since the match, having had a virus during the previous week, but is not considered a concern.

Boss Joe Royle seems certain to stick with the side which finished Saturday's game, with Drissa Diallo and Kevin Horlock dropping to the bench in favour of Matt Richards and Darren Currie, who started his career with the Hammers.

Royle, who made his squad sit through a video of the New Year's Day defeat to the Hammers as part of their pre-match preparations, says he expects a superb Portman Road atmosphere: "It promises to be a great night. There is going to be a tremendous turnout and we need hardly remind our supporters what is at stake. They want it as badly as we do and know they can play their part.

"The big negative when West Ham came here in the league was the result, but performance-wise we were better than them in virtually every area."

Hammers' boss Alan Pardew, who cancelled the club's pre-match press conference, says his side tend to do better in higher profile matches: "We've shown this season that we like the big occasions and that can only be a positive thing going into a game as tense as this.

"We've won at some tough places this season, where we've had to show a lot of character and spirit, and I'm confident we'll respond in the right way on Wednesday.

"I think there's only one occasion since I've been at the club when we haven't performed on the big stage.

"That was in the play-off final last season, and that's something we don't intend to repeat.

"We're looking forward to the tie. Our preparation over the last few days has been really positive and we're going into it determined to do ourselves justice.

"The most important thing is we win and we go through to the final. Nothing else matters to us and we're thinking of nothing else."

West Ham are again without striker Teddy Sheringham, whose son Charlie was recently handed a further one-year deal with Town. The former England man has a hamstring injury.

Young midfielder Mark Noble could come into the starting line-up with the Hammers switching to a five-man midfield, former Town loanee Marlon Harewood employed as a lone striker. Bobby Zamora is likely to be the man dropping to the bench.

Pardew is expected to stick with young central defenders Elliott Ward and Anton Ferdinand instead of recalling experienced duo Malky Mackay and Christian Dailly, who are both back from injury and will again be on the bench.

Wednesday's referee is Steve Dunn, a member of the FA's elite list. The Gloucestershire official most recently oversaw the Blues last month when Town were defeated 2-0 at Wolves, James Scowcroft picking up a yellow card.

Dunn has shown 78 yellow and two red cards in 35 matches this season, the last of which was relegated Norwich's 6-0 humiliation at Fulham on Sunday.

The assistant referees are Bernard Baker (Hampshire) and Phil Sharp (Hertfordshire), and the fourth official is Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).

Away goals do not count at any stage of the game. A draw after 90 minutes will lead to extra-time (no gold or silver goals) and if required penalties.

Town squad: Davis, Price, Wilnis, Richards, De Vos, Naylor, Diallo, Magilton, Miller, Westlake, Currie, Westlake, Juan, Bent, Kuqi, Couñago, Bowditch, McDonald.

Photo: Action Images

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