Who can walk tightrope in tantalising London derby?

[BBC] [Getty Images] London derbies generally run by their own rules. The expectations, the crowd, the sense of proximity – they all add to an air of unpredictability. However, Millwall against West Ham operates on a different level. This match walks a tightrope whenever and wherever it is played. Unlike so many matches involving sides in the capital, this one happens infrequently – the last meeting was 14 years ago. The rivalry, however, is long and tortuous. Even when they are not in the same division these two eyeball each other across the River Thames. Many will recall the ugly clashes both inside and outside Upton Park during a League Cup game in 2009. Those incidents have left a scar on football in the city. The fixture itself is tantalising. West Ham have come into form in the Championship and are scoring goals for fun. They will be favourites. Millwall have shown glimpses of the form behind last season's promotion push but are beset by an extraordinarily long injury list. The crowd at The Den will know the odds are stacked against them so they will be even more motivated than ever to generate the sort of atmosphere that could redress the balance. Whichever team copes best in that environment will succeed. If Millwall can rise to the occasion then don't count them out. If West Ham can blot out the noise, their promotion credentials will be burnished. There will be plenty watching this game to see if all those questions get overwhelmed by a different sort of story. That 90-minute tightrope walk will test everyone involved.