I believe in the players and I believe in what we do

Last updated : 29 October 2013 By Tony Scholes

Allardyce is back at Turf Moor for the first time since his West Ham team came from 2-0 down to earn a point as they went on to reach the play-offs in 2011/12 where they beat Blackpool to make an immediate return to the Premier League.

He's admitted that it will be a much changed West Ham team from that which played against Swansea on Sunday. He said: "There are not too many of the players who featured against Swansea on Sunday who will be capable, physically, of playing at Burnley.

"By the time we got back on Sunday it was touching midnight, then we had to travel all the way up to Burnley, so it will definitely be the squad players who step in."

He added: "We are playing top of the league in the Championship, Burnley, on their patch and in terrific form. They're on a brilliant run of games, eight wins on the trot, so it's going to be a huge test for some of these players and I'm really looking forward to seeing whether they can stand up to it.

"As always, I tell them, if you get a chance in the first team, lads, make sure you take it, because you don't get many, as we haven't got enough time to give you many. So I'm looking forward to seeing those players give me a lot of excitement on Tuesday night and hopefully get us through to the next round."

Dyche, like Allardyce, is also looking forward to it. Five seasons ago Burnley reached the semi-final of this competition, but Dyche also knows about semi-finals having scored from the penalty spot in Chesterfield's FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough back in 1997.

Ahead of tonight's game he said: "It is a challenge, but it is an exciting one for all of us and we look forward to it.

"I try to stay open minded about what can be achieved. I had some good achievements as a player and some of my staff did, and I think these players can achieve whatever they wish to. It’s only an open-minded attitude, it doesn’t guarantee you what you want to achieve happens, but it gives you a better chance with that clarity of thinking.

“The biggest thing is having no fear, just going out and playing open-minded. They know they’re organised, they know the structure, they certainly know they’re fit enough. That allows them that mental clarity to go and put a performance in.

“I don’t really try to limit the players to what they can achieve. People talk about markers and whether Saturday was another marker but every team in this division has to be treated wisely and carefully. I believe in the players and I believe in what we do.”

Dyche revealed that both Scott Arfield, who missed the QPR game, and Dean Marney face late checks.  “They will be touch and go I think,” he added. “That is the down side of having a quick turnover.

"The international breaks have served us well so far and the November one looks like it will become important because we have got a small squad as everyone knows so it’s important we get the rest as well as the work.

“If they’re fit I’ll look to use the players that we think are strong enough to win, if they’re not fit then we believe in the group. They’ve delivered so far when there have been changes and we’ll look for that to happen again, albeit a tougher challenge against a Premier League side.

“There’s a real good group feel and that goes through the staff and onto the players and onto the pitch.”