It’s another bunch of almost Cockneys on Saturday – but this time, a bunch I always feel a bit more sympathy for.

I always think that Orient have a lot in common with the Saddlers, in trying to survive in a large urban area where there are a lot of clubs with bigger fan bases and more success surrounding them. They have always been the “poor relations” to their main competition in the North East of the capital, Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham.

I suppose it will be interesting to see if the regeneration of a large chunk of their possible catchment area by the 2012 Olympics has any effect on them, but I hope, for the sake of football, that the soul of clubs like our two doesn’t disappear. Anyway, onto the game.

The Saddlers will be waiting on the results of some fitness tests before being able to decide on the line up.

Stephen Roberts apparently was taken off last week at half time with a calf strain, so we do not know if he’ll be back. If not, Manny Smith will deputise, but cover past there is very scarce for centre backs. Long term absentees Rhys Weston and Dwayne Mattis have been in full training, but we don’t know if they’ll be considered for a start, as they are not really match fit.

The other selection dilemma is bound to be the return of Michael Ricketts from suspension. Does he start, when Ishmel Demontagnac looked so effective last week up front (and, to be honest, far more effective than when he’s started on the wing)? If Ishy goes to left wing, where does Reich play, now he is starting to approach match fitness following his lack of a proper pre season?

The O’s will be without Simon Dawkins for the trip to the Banks’s, as the striker turned his ankle in Tuesday’s win at Southend. He joins an extensive injury list which also includes Tamika Mkandawire and Danny Granville (both groin), Wayne Gray (knee), Dean Morgan (foot) and Solomon Shields (ankle). Alton Thelwell, however, comes back into the squad after sitting out at Roots Hall.

Predictions?

The O’s drew at Brighton last week before beating Southend 4-2 on Tuesday in the Mickey Mouse Trophy and Manager Martin Ling is looking forward to the trip to the Banks’s.

He said: “We looked at the run of three away games in a week and put them down as difficult fixtures. So to put the two performances in that we have so far means we’ll go to Walsall on Saturday full of confidence”.

The Saddlers, of course, will also be facing this game brimming with confidence, following last week’s 5 – 2 defeat of Southend. Jimmy Mullen was not pleased with his team’s defending in that game, however, so he will be wary of a side who have proved they can finish this week against the same opposition.

I’d still be looking for a home win, however, hoping that the Manager has addressed those defensive frailties.