WEST Brom head coach Alan Irvine resisted the temptation to show his players footage of Cherries’ rout of Birmingham – in case it frightened them.

Asked whether he had enjoyed seeing a scouting report of Cherries’ 8-0 win at St Andrew’s, Irvine joked: “I think I would scare the players to death if I showed them the video!”

He added: “I have seen them live twice, losing 1-0 at Derby in what was a really high quality Championship game and I saw them last Tuesday night. I travelled to Bournemouth to watch them against Reading. They were excellent in the second half and scored three goals.

“I have got no doubt this is a really tough task for our lads.”

In an interview with the Daily Echo, boss Eddie Howe said Cherries were the “underdogs”. Asked whether he felt the Dorset club were favourites, Irvine said: “We are going to their ground and they are doing well. I am not a betting man so I don't understand the odds terribly well but someone else makes that decision.

“It is something I will use. I will tell the lads about it because it is something which can reinforce the fact this is a really tough game.”

Strikers Victor Anichebe and Brown Ideye could start for the Baggies with Irvine likely to make several changes.

Anichebe scored after coming off the substitutes’ bench to help the Baggies to a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday, while £10million summer buy Ideye is fit after an ankle problem.

Boaz Myhill could start in goal, while Gareth McAuley, Cristian Gamboa and Youssouf Mulumbu may be recalled.

Winger Silvestre Varela is unlikely to be risked as he recovers from groin surgery, Jonas Olsson is struggling with an Achilles problem and Claudio Yacob is in his native Argentina due to family illness.

For Cherries, Steve Cook and Harry Arter are both suspended after picking up their fifth bookings of the season at Birmingham on Saturday, while Andrew Surman is cup tied having played in an earlier round for former club Norwich. Loan goalkeeper Artur Boruc, however, is available, while Yann Kermorgant returns following a three-match ban.