Mark Noble is up for the "intensity" of this Saturday's trip to Manchester United as West Ham United look to cause an upset.
The midfielder, along with Robert Green and Luis Boa Morte, is one of three survivors from the starting lineup that went to Old Trafford back in May 2007 and came away with a famous 1-0 victory. Things have not gone the Hammers way in recent visits but Noble will always relish the prospect of United meeting United.
"I love playing at Old Trafford and against those sorts of teams," said Noble, who played the full 90 minutes on Saturday and Tuesday against Bolton Wanderers and Oxford respectively." There is such intensity. Not just for the team but personally I love it. You are playing against one of the best teams in the world.
"It doesn't matter who you are playing in this league, all the teams are so strong. The fixtures haven't been kind to us but we are up for it and you have got to beat the teams in front of you. That is how you have to look at it.
"I am looking forward to it. I am going to try and rest a bit as to play two games back to back this early on the season is quite tough on players' bodies."
Noble has welcomed the influx of new faces into the squad - "we needed to add quality to the squad" - and was categoric when asked if he felt concerned about the slow start to the league campaign. "It doesn't worry me. I think we have a good enough squad and good enough team to be doing well.
"On Saturday the game was the best we have played for a long while as a whole team. Three long balls, scrappy goals killed us off. We have got to fight against that and be better on Saturday."
Against the Reds, Noble will again line up alongside Scott Parker - especially in Thomas Hitzlsperger's continued absence - and said the duo were getting stronger. "Scott and I have played in central midfield in the last couple of games and I've really enjoyed it.
"We bounce off each other. It's like being telepathic and it's great to have that understanding."