Local derby, 120th competitive meeting as it happens. Cup game. Mid-week. Under the floodlights. Only a fool would try to predict the outcome of one these; all bets are off and anything can happen. McLeish has called for a hostile atmosphere and described the reputation of the City fans as being “volatile but not in a nasty way”, whatever that might mean.

Meanwhile, Gérard Houllier has appealed for calm: “It’s a game which is on TV, and it’s a derby, but more importantly, it’s a game of football, and a game of football must be played with football arguments and nothing else.”

I imagine it will indeed be a pretty hostile and volatile atmosphere, no need for me to fan those flames, but it will be an environment that could have any number of affects on our young team. They may go in knowing no fear and play a tenacious, attacking game and let the opposition worry about the significance of the game, or they may buckle under the pressure of intimidation.

West Ham accomplished two things last night when they thumped Man Utd 4-0; they proved that anything can happen in a cup game and they made this competition a whole lot more interesting by knocking out the reigning champions from the last two years.

As disenamoured as I am with the League Cup, I can’t deny the prospect of two legged semi-final and the two-in-three chance that the opponent won’t be Arsenal isn’t extremely appetising. With our league form offering little to be optimistic about in terms of final position in May, this cup could be our only opportunity to qualify for Europe again next season, something I’m desperate for us to achieve.

The good news, more because of his record against the Blues than his form this season, is that Gabby is likely to be available. A good performance from him, maybe with a goal or two, helping us to a win could well kick start his season and re-energise the rest of a team at a vital time.

As I say, attempting to predict the outcome of this one would be foolish, but we definitely can beat them and beat them hard, even with our massively depleted squad, but it will take a few seriously good performances on the pitch, no one can be carried in this one.

Team news will be available as usual on Twitter before kick off. The other quarter final tonight is between Ipswich and West Brom, Arsenal and West Ham have already booked their place in the semi-final draw the timing of which is still to be confirmed which will take place after the game, to be broadcast by Sky.

The last encounter at Villa Park had much sucked out of it by the early kick off and tactics designed primarily not to lose, this one promises to be a far more electric affair altogether. See you on the other side!

Villa Starting XI: Friedel, Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Hogg, Bannan, Clark, Downing, Young, Agbonlahor.
Subs: Guzan, Pires, Cuellar, Lichaj, Delfouneso, Carew, Ireland.