West Ham United visit Everton on Saturday seeking a fifth consecutive Premier League win.
The Londoners were in the relegation zone at the start of February but have since reeled off four straight victories to climb into the top half of the table.
Their hosts at Goodison Park this weekend have seen their bid for Champions League qualification hit by three defeats in their last four outings, including losses to close rivals Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
Toffees boss Roberto Martinez is likely to recall 20-year-old John Stones to cover for the injured Phil Jagielka in the centre of defence, with Antonin Alcaraz still sidelined by a muscle problem.
Jagielka's absence meant that Leighton Baines was one of only two players from either club to be included in Roy Hodgson's 30-man England squad for the friendly against Denmark at Wembley next week.
The Three Lions full-back scored a remarkable free-kick brace in the reverse fixture between these two sides, where Romelu Lukaku opened his Everton account to earn them a 3-2 win at Upton Park.
Martinez continues to be without the Belgian striker and is also missing Lacina Traore, whose hamstring injury is deemed serious enough for the club to be considering terminating his loan from Monaco.
Darron Gibson, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone are long-term absentees for the Merseysiders, who may restore Hodgson's other Everton call-up, Ross Barkley, to the starting XI in place of Leon Osman.
Andy Carroll's international snub is a blow to his World Cup chances, but he will be hoping to impress the England staff should he be recalled by the Hammers now that he has served his three-match ban.
Sam Allardyce has hinted that he may stick with the winning formula, and thus maintain Carlton Cole in attack, which would leave £15m club-record signing Carroll to take a place among the substitutes.
Winston Reid, who is nearing full fitness again following ankle surgery, is another who will probably have to make do with a seat on the bench, although Guy Demel is a doubt due to illness.
Recent form
Everton: LWLWLW
West Ham: WWWWDL
Possible starting lineups
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Distin, Baines; Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas, Barkley, Pienaar; Naismith
West Ham: Adrian; Demel, Collins, Tomkins, McCartney; Taylor, Noble, Nolan; Downing, Jarvis, C. Cole
Sports Mole says: 1-1
Joe Fish
