Steve's Sniffle

Steve Lomas looks to shrug off a most unusual handicap ahead of the London derby with Charlton on Saturday - hay fever.

Assuming that is put behind him - and he is taking medication - he looks forward to playing.

"It is going to be a big game," says Steve. It always is with Alan Curbishley coming back to his old club, where he doesn't like to lose," says Steve.

"It will be a difficult game and it would be nice to get a win off them this season - which would mean four points off them, and that isn't bad.

"The weekend was just what the doctor ordered and now we want to push on up there, but we have got some difficult games coming up.

"Charlton have been doing well, we have Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle away, so let's not get it wrong, it won't be easy, and we have got Bolton, who are fighting for their lives, and Sunderland.

"But the two wins has given everyone hope.

"Charlton are termed as the kings of London. They fight right to the end, as we know from earlier in the season."

Nigel Winterburn returns to the squad in place of Vladimir Labant, but otherwise there are no fresh injuries from the Easter weekend.

Squad: James, Hislop, Andersson, Schemmel, Repka, Pearce, Dailly, Winterburn, Carrick, Cole, Moncur, Lomas, Sinclair, Kanoute, Di Canio, Defoe, Kitson, Garcia, Courtois, Potts.

Former Hammer Mark Robson, now working in the youth department at Charlton, will be co-commentator on www.whufc.com for Saturday's match.