For much of the season, predicting how David Moyes will line up his sides to start the match has not been terribly difficult.
When Jack Grealish was in the mix and before Jarrad Branthwaite returned from his hamstring injury, the team more or less picked itself. Then came AFCON, Grealish's injury, and Branthwaite's return (and subsequent injury), all of which have made the exercise a little less chalk.
Now, Everton are living in a world without Branthwaite, as previously mentioned, and Beto, who has been Moyes' preferred striker over the last few weeks, but is now set to miss the match with a concussion.
To make matters more interesting, Moyes' pre-match press conference included the phrase "if I play him" in regards to Thierno Barry, who would appear to be the obvious choice to step into Beto's shoes against the Hammers.
Maybe that's just Moyes being coy, but it certainly felt like a challenge to the younger striker.
Based on everything we know, here's how we think the manager will choose to line up his side in this pivotal trip to the capital.
Everton's predicted starting XI vs West Ham (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Jordan Pickford (GK): No questions here, thankfully. There are plenty elsewhere.
Vitalii Mykolenko (LB): Could the fullback be next after Michael Keane's extension? If nothing else, you keep him around as depth or a sales piece.
Michael Keane (CB): Armed with his new contract and without Branthwaite, expect Keane-o to get the starts here to end the season, even if there are other options.
James Tarkowski (CB): It's time to go back to hoping opposing teams don't try to beat Everton over the top, as Tark and Keane aren't the fleetest of foot.
Jake O'Brien (RB): In a perfect world, O'Brien finally gets the chance for a long run at his preferred position. That world does not appear to exist.
Midfielders
Idrissa Gana Gueye (CM): Continues to be a key part of the engine room, even if he might be guilty of trying to do too much at times. Moyes noted word about his contract might be coming soon.
James Garner (CM): He's working so hard this season that I almost hate that I wish he'd finish the year at right back. Almost.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (CAM): Everton's best summer signing? No doubt. Wish we'd see more of the others
Forwards
Tyrique George (LW): Now it's time to rethink some things. This move will make more sense in a moment, but George might be one of the few pacey, direct dribblers that Everton have in the side. That could be useful when neither team really wants the ball.
Dwight McNeil (RW): Oh, how I long for this to be an inflection of youth here, but Moyes clearly doesn't rate Tyler Dibling, for whatever reason.
Iliman Ndiaye (CF): Moyes' comments are enough to make us wonder if he'll think outside the box here, and Ndiaye is really the only other option he has here.
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