The Den stages the Dockers Derby on Saturday with Millwall hosting West Ham United at 12:30. A heavy police presence is expected for one of English football's fiercest rivalries.
The clubs were formed less than three miles apart, with Millwall originating on the Isle of Dogs and West Ham beginning as Thames Ironworks in Canning Town. Their first meeting took place during the 1899-1900 FA Cup, while links to competing dockyards gave the fixture its traditional name.
This will be the first competitive meeting since February 2012. The long gap adds further interest to a match already carrying importance at the top end of the Championship.
West Ham lead the division after collecting 14 points from seven games. Millwall sit 11th with 10 points, having won three, drawn one and lost three.
The hosts enter the derby after earning a 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough on Tuesday. Tairyk Arconte gave Millwall an early lead before Lyndon Dykes converted Caleb Taylor's delivery to make it 2-0 after 36 minutes.
Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg made three half-time substitutions and received an immediate response. Amario Cozier-Duberry scored five minutes after the restart before Will Lankshear headed in Luke Ayling's cross to equalise.
Middlesbrough controlled 80% possession and recorded 22 attempts, but Millwall generated the higher-quality chances. Alex Neil's side finished with 1.69 xG from 11 shots, compared with 1.52 from the hosts.
Neil said Millwall had planned to remain compact and counter following heavy away defeats against Southampton and Blackburn Rovers. He praised the effort of his players and highlighted the restrictions created by a lengthy injury list.
Millwall are without Alfie Doughty, Lukas Bornhoft Jensen, Josh Coburn, Casper De Norre, Tristan Crama, Ryan Leonard, Mihailo Ivanovic and Mathis Servais. Those absences reduce Neil's options across defence, midfield and attack.
Their home form has been stronger. Millwall have beaten Norwich City 3-0 and Bolton Wanderers 4-0 at The Den, either side of a 3-0 defeat against Wrexham.
West Ham arrive following four consecutive league victories. They began the run with a 4-2 success against Wolverhampton Wanderers before beating Derby County 3-0.
A 3-2 victory at Bolton followed, with West Ham creating seven big chances from 11 attempts. Their chance quality produced 2.46 xG, compared with Bolton's 1.73.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side then beat Wrexham 6-0 at the London Stadium. West Ham registered 19 shots, tested the goalkeeper nine times and restricted their opponents to one effort on target.
The expected West Ham side includes one change from the team used against Wrexham. Kyle Walker-Peters should replace the injured Joël Veltman at right-back. Tomss Soucek remains doubtful, leaving Divine Mukasa and Arne Engels as the likely central midfield partnership.
Millwall should retain their 4-2-3-1 system. Dykes is expected to play behind Arconte, with Mark Sykes and Camiel Neghli operating from the wider attacking positions.
How the bookies view it
West Ham are 81/100, carrying an implied probability of 55.2%. Millwall are 16/5, representing 23.8%, while the draw is priced at 3/1, giving it a 25.0% chance.
Over 2.5 goals is available at 8/13, implying 61.9%. Under 2.5 is 11/8, representing 42.1%.
Both teams to score is priced at 4/7 for yes, carrying an implied probability of 63.6%. No is available at 6/4, representing 40.0%.
Player to watch: Jarrod Bowen constant threat for Hammers
Jarrod Bowen has produced the strongest attacking numbers in the West Ham squad during the opening weeks of the season.
The England international has scored four league goals from 4.28 xG across 629 minutes. He has taken 28 shots, with 10 finding the target.
Bowen's creative output has been equally important. He has recorded 2.63 xA and supplied 21 chances for teammates. Those totals equal averages of four attempts and three chances created per appearance.
His role on the right of West Ham's midfield gives him opportunities to move inside and combine with the two forwards. Walker-Peters should provide the overlapping runs from full-back.
Bowen also takes penalties, increasing his routes to a goal contribution. Millwall have allowed 27 shots on target and 15 big chances, giving West Ham's leading attacker a favourable individual matchup.
Predicted lineups
Millwall (4-2-3-1): Crocombe, Osei-Tutu, Taylor, Cooper, Sturge, Metcalfe, Mazou-Sacko, Sykes, Dykes, Neghli, Arconte.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Morato, Kilman, Bowen, Mukasa, Engels, Solomon, Piroe, Castellanos.
Anything else catch the eye
The underlying performance table supports West Ham's position. They rank first in the Championship for xPTS with 13.86, while Millwall sit fourth on 11.62.
West Ham have generated 16.80 xG and allowed 8.42 xGA. Their positive difference of 8.38 is almost double Millwall's return of 4.14, created from 14.07 xG and 9.93 xGA.
The visitors also hold the stronger attacking volume. They have produced 111 shots, including 86 from inside the penalty area. Millwall have registered 102 attempts, with 82 coming from inside the box.
West Ham's defensive control provides another advantage. Opponents have created six big chances against them, while the leaders have produced 31 at the other end. This gives them a difference of 25 in a measure focused on clear scoring opportunities.
The relevant venue figures offer the main warning against an away win. Millwall have taken six points from three home matches and generated 5.51 xG while allowing 3.04. West Ham remain unbeaten on the road, but two of their three away fixtures have ended level.
Each West Ham away game has seen both sides find the net. Their six goals scored and five conceded produce an average of 3.67 per match outside the London Stadium.
Millwall's results have also contained regular goals. Six of their seven fixtures have finished with at least three, including each of the last six.
The historical record at The Den favours the hosts, with Millwall unbeaten across the previous three home meetings. They won 1-0 in 2004 and 4-1 in 2004 before the clubs drew 0-0 in 2011. The age of those results limits their value when assessing the current squads.
West Ham possess the stronger chance profile, deeper available squad and greater attacking output. The derby environment makes the handicap markets less appealing, leaving the standard result price as the preferred option.
GambleAware