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West Ham United return to action on Tuesday evening when they welcome Southampton to the Chigwell Construction Stadium in the Subway Women’s League Cup.

After a demanding start to the campaign, Rita Guarino’s side will be looking to bounce back from Sunday’s Barclays Women’s Super League defeat at Manchester United and continue the positive momentum they generated in their opening League Cup outing against Tottenham Hotspur.

The competition has already provided opportunities for squad rotation this season, and with a busy schedule beginning to take its toll, Tuesday’s fixture could offer another chance for several players to stake their claim for more regular involvement. The Hammers currently sit in a strong position in their League Cup group after taking two points from their opening match against Spurs, and another positive result would strengthen their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.

Southampton arrive from Women's Super League 2 and will view the trip to east London as an opportunity to test themselves against top-flight opposition. While league positions and divisions often count for little in cup football, West Ham will start as favourites and will be expected to control possession and create the better chances.

One of the key talking points ahead of the game is likely to be team selection. With Riko Ueki currently sidelined by a calf injury and Ffion Morgan still working her way back to full fitness, Guarino may once again need to manage her squad carefully. The League Cup has often been a platform for younger players and fringe members of the squad, and supporters could see some fresh faces included among the substitutes. Recent academy prospects and players on the fringes of the first team may be handed valuable experience in a senior matchday environment as the coaching staff look to balance minutes across the squad.

Players such as Sienna Wareing, who has impressed when given opportunities this season, could be in line for further involvement, while several Professional Game Academy players may be hopeful of earning a place on the bench if Guarino opts to rotate following Sunday's trip to Manchester. The Italian has repeatedly spoken about the importance of having the entire squad ready to contribute whenever called upon.

Despite the likelihood of changes, West Ham still possess plenty of attacking quality. Viviane Asseyi continues to be one of the Hammers' biggest threats in the final third, while Kelly Gago, Katie Zelem and Seraina Piubel have all shown encouraging signs during the opening weeks of the campaign.

Expect West Ham to approach the game positively, looking to dominate possession and create chances against a Southampton side that will likely be organised and eager to frustrate their hosts. If the Hammers can rediscover the intensity and spirit shown against London City Lionesses and Tottenham, they will fancy their chances of taking another important step towards the League Cup knockout rounds.

Predicted West Ham XI: Picaud; Codina, Cascarino, Nyström, Belloumou; Kumagai, Zelem; Piubel, Siren, Asseyi; Gago.

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