West Ham United defender Fabian Balbuena is set for a baptism of fire when his team take on London rivals Chelsea at home in a crucial league game on Saturday afternoon. The Paraguay international player is expected to be named in the Hammers starting XI in the place of the suspended Craig Dawson for the visit of Chelsea.
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Premier League table toppers Manchester City have already qualified for the Champions League next season, while second-placed Manchester United and third-placed Leicester City are on course to follow the Citizens into the competition next season thereby leaving the other contenders to battle for the last spot.
The remaining contenders are West Ham United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Everton.
Chelsea occupy fourth position for now due to their superior goal difference over the Hammers with the two teams on 55 points, while Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are in seventh and sixth respectively with 53 points though Spurs have played a game more than everyone. On their part, Everton are in eighth place with 52 points.
West Ham United manager David Moyes has done a fantastic job for the club this season after taking a team that survived relegation from the league last season into Champions League contention with six matches left to play. A win for the Hammers at home to Chelsea will take them back above the Blues into fourth place.
Moyes and his players started last weekend in fourth place before they were beaten 3-2 at the home of Newcastle United with ten men after the first half dismissal of Dawson. Chelsea drew goalless with Brighton and Hove Albion at home to take fourth place from the Hammers on goal difference courtesy the point earned.
Paraguay defender Balbuena is expected to take the place of Dawson in a three-man defence for the Hammers. The Paraguay international was in the team for the most part of the first half of this season until he suffered an injury and could not win his place back upon his return.