Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa does not expect Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie to feel like a game between sides in different divisions.
After taking just two points from their first three matches of the season, West Ham United have now won four in a row to sit atop the Sky Bet Championship.
It also marks a second fixture in four days that sees Arbeloa return to a former club.
“Yes, what a week for me! And another London Derby – Chelsea, Crystal Palace, now West Ham.
“An away game in another difficult stadium, against a team that are performing so well. They won their last game 6-0 [against Wrexham], they beat Southampton in the Carabao Cup, also, so we know them.
“They are a difficult team with top players. Even some of them have Premier League level [experience], so for me they are not a Championship team. If we want to beat them, we need to perform so well.”
When asked if the Carabao Cup represents a decent opportunity for Fulham to win a trophy, Arbeloa confirmed it is a competition he is keen to go far in.
“For me, we want to win all the games, so the target for us tomorrow is win the game, because if we don't win the game, we are out of the competition. So, we know that it’s a final for us. It's very important to beat them and to try to go to the next round.”