West Ham have endured a torrid start to the season, evident enough through their current league standing of 18th place, and it won't get much easier this Saturday when they travel to Selhurst Park for the Premier League's 5.30pm kickoff.
Indeed, Crystal Palace have claimed eleven points from their last five Premier League fixtures, not losing a top flight match-up since August and bagging an impressive eleven goals in the process.
That being said, the Hammers appeared to stop the rot just before the international break with a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at the London Stadium.
Likewise, all bets are off when it comes to London derbies, as the tackles go flying in and the pitch becomes a battlefield of rule-bending attrition.
Indeed, it could well come down to which side dominates the key individual battles. With that in mind, Football FanCast have taken a look at three we're backing to decide the outcome of Saturday's 3pm kickoff.
CHRISTIAN BENTEKE VS WINSTON REID
Christian Benteke's proved a worthwhile acquisition for the Eagles, despite his club-record transfer fee, with three Premier League goals already this season - a significant improvement on his form for Liverpool last term.
But the ultimate difference is an obvious one. Whilst the Reds are concerned with more aesthetic styles, Palace play to the Belgium international's obvious strengths with direct football and crosses into the box aplenty.
The job of stopping the supply hitting it's target will predominantly fall to Winston Reid. He's a real warrior of a centre-half and will feel obliged to impose himself on Benteke as early into the match as possible.
Perhaps more important, however, is whether Reid can organise a backline that's conceded a staggering 17 times in the Premier League already this season.
DIMITRI PAYET VS JASON PUNCHEON
One name may be considerably more famous than the other but Jason Puncheon is an intrinsic cog at the top of Crystal Palace's midfield. Indeed, he's their chief creator, using his ambipedal ability to great effect, and the majority of the Eagles' counter-attacks pass through him.
In essence, his role is similar to Dimitri Payet's - finding the space between the opposition lines and creating something special from it - even though the 30-year-old's contribution goes largely unnoticed by the wider Premier League audience.
That being said, Puncheon's by no means guaranteed to come out on top in the battle of the midfield playmakers. There's no doubt Payet's one of the most entertaining and naturally talented footballers in the Premier League and despite West Ham's woes, he's popped up with one goal and three assists in five appearances this season.
WILFRIED ZAHA VS AARON CRESSWELL
Aaron Cresswell's on the mend and Slaven Bilic has already confirmed the left-back will be in the squad for Saturday following his lengthy injury layoff. West Ham are in desperate need of reinforcements at the back, claiming just one clean sheet so far this season and conceding the most goals of any side in the division.
No doubt, Cresswell is a talented full-back, especially when venturing forward. But nonetheless, this may not be the right game for him to come back into the frame, likely lining up against an in-form Wilfried Zaha.
The English winger still lacks end product but his direct runs, mazy dribbling and all-round athleticism have a knack of causing chaos in the final third. Accordingly, he'll run a half-fit Cresswell ragged on Saturday - so it's vital Bilic only starts the former Ipswich Town defender if he's in top condition.