“It’s going to be a tough one. We all know how talented Mark Viduka is,” Neill told au.fourfourtwo.com before Friday’s training session in London.

“It’s a game we need to win. We want to win it, we’re at home.”

And Viduka’s Newcastle have hit a purple patch. Undefeated in their last six, Kevin Keegan’s men have finally come good after a wretched 12 months that’s seen three managers at St James’ Park.

Viduka and fellow strike partners Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen have scored 23 goals between them this season – many goals coming in the last two months.

After relegation fears, Kevin Keegan's Geordies now sit outside the relegation zone on 42 points with three games to go.

The Magpies’ reserves even won the Northumberland Senior Cup on Wednesday night with Aussie flyer and fringe first team player James Troisi playing 62 minutes.

As for Lucas Neill’s men, West Ham snapped a four-game winless streak last week with a 2-1 victory over relegated Derby. They sit tenth on 47 points, five points ahead of the Geordies

Neill says his Hammers will be up against it when the V-Bomber and Co. hit London.

“Obviously they’re on a great run of form, so it’s important we stop the likes of Mark Viduka, Martins and Owen, who have formed a very formidable partnership.

“So if we can nullify them going forward we’re hopeful we’ve got enough to finish them off.”

Neill is currently the skipper of the national team, although Viduka captained the Socceroos at last year's Asian Cup.

However, as for banter between the two Socceroo stars, Neill was playing that down.

He added: “We like to keep it nice and low key... and let the football do the talking.”