WEST Ham manager Glen Roeder knows he is in for a battle at the Reebok.

He watched Wanderers in their defeat at White Hart Lane on Tuesday but does not expected to have learned too much from it.

"They had about four players missing and will also have Paul Warhurst coming back from suspension so it could be a different team from what I saw on Tuesday."

What he does expect is a battle against a side manager Sam Allardyce, who featured on the opposing defence to Roeder on numerous occasions during their careers, has created in his own mould.

"Sam has done well with his team and after their good start to the season they are still battling," he said.

And he knows all about danger-man Michael Ricketts, another player being touted for a place in Eriksson's England set-up.

"When you see the goals he has scored in the Premiership in his first season you see he has proved himself. Sam has said some great things about him and he's an outstanding young player," added the West Ham boss.

But Roeder is hoping that his own striking protege, 19-year-old Jermain Defoe, who will have Frenchman Frederic Kanoute back alongside him after a hamstring injury, will again display his predatory instincts after snatching both his side's goals against Chelsea in the absence of Kanoute and the suspended Paolo di Canio.