ROVERS take on the Jekyll and Hyde team of the Premiership at Ewood Park on Saturday, looking to add to travel-weary West Ham's away-day claret and blues. For while only Manchester United can rival the Hammers' home form this season, on the road even rock-bottom Barnsley have picked up more points on their travels.

So while Harry Redknapp's side have turned Upton Park into a fortress with seven wins and one defeat - away from home their form has upped and left them with just one win outside London.

Ian Pearce makes his first return to Ewood Park since joining the Londoners for £2.25 million at the beginning of the season.

The former England Under-21 player was signed by Redknapp to add steel to his defence.

But he has had mixed success as the Hammers have one of the leakiest away-day defences in the league.

Rovers manager Roy Hodgson said: "West Ham are a very good team with good players and their away form surprises me.

"They have been unlucky on a number of occasions but I am sure that will all change soon - as long as it is after Saturday's game."

In 17-goal John Hartson West Ham have the Premiership's top scorer and a player in the form of his life. The rugged Welsh striker has lived up to the £3.3 million West Ham paid Arsenal for his services towards the end of last season. And on current form - and current inflated prices - he could fetch up to three times as much on today's market.

Hartson has been rejoined up front by strike-partner Paul Kitson after a three month injury lay-off: he returned with a goal in Saturday's 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday.

And with the deadly Israeli Eyal Berkovic supplying the ammunition from midfield, Colin Hendry and Stephane Henchoz will have to repeat the superb displays they showed against Arsenal to keep Hartson and Kitson at bay.

Billy McKinlay will serve a two-match ban after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Arsenal on Saturday.

The tough-tackling Scot will miss the home clash against Crystal Palace on December 28 and the FA Cup tie against Wigan the following weekend.

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