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Freddie Kanoute - who was injured for Saturday's clash at Villa - returns to the fold, placing a doubt on the inclusion of Jermain Defoe in the starting line-up, as di Canio would be an extremely unlikely omission. However, with the midfield depleted to such an extent it is not implausible that all three might make it into the starting team.
With four players out, that might on another day constitute a Hammers midfield, in Don Hutchison, Michael Carrick, Steve Lomas and John Moncur, Roeder is left with selection headaches of a different kind when it comes to sorting out the centre of the park.
Defence is also an area where there seems to be too many players - another luxury that will seem strange to the Hammers boss. With Ian Pearce now back in contention for a centre-back role, in positions that Dailly and Repka have filled up till now, Roeder must decide on his defence.
The formation he decides to play will obviously to a certain extent which players are picked. And with 4-4-2 being West Ham's more successful strategy this season, especially at home, it would be the most likely option.
So with James in goal, the 'regular' Hammers defence is likely to line up in front of him in Schemmel, Dailly, Repka and Winterburn.
Midfield will see Cole and Sinclair as definite inclusions, and Paolo di Canio could be placed in midfield with Richard Garcia, looking for his third Hammers start. With di Canio a contender for midfield, Jermain Defoe and Freddie Kanoute would line up in attack.
The actual line-up may include new boy Vladimir Labant, although with his lack of knowledge as far as the English language is concerned it appears as though he might be left as a substitute for a while longer.
Therefore, I would expect to see Labant join Hislop, Ian Pearce and Paul Kitson on the bench for this match, with Grant McCann another player likely to be bench-warming.