UPTON Park is bracing itself for another tense final day finish. But this year the battle is for a European place rather than against the dreaded drop. Both the Hammers and Leicester need a win and other results to go their way if they are to sneak into next season's UEFA Cup. No doubt Martin O'Neill shares Harry Redknapp's hope that FA Cup Final managers Arsene Wenger and Kenny Dalglish 'do the decent thing' and field full-strength teams against fellow Euro-hopefuls Aston Villa and Blackburn. ''If it was me I would field my strongest team possible,'' said West Ham manager Redknapp. ''It happened in 1992 when we held Manchester United 1-1 on the final day of the season and that helped Blackburn clinch the title. I could have played a few kids that day but I felt it was my responsibility to put out my best side." The Hammers' cause should be boosted by the return to the team of England defender Rio Ferdinand. The 19-year-old sweeper is hoping to shake off a neck injury to face Leicester. If Ferdinand makes it then skipper Steve Lomas will move back from defence into midfield, Trevor Sinclair will rejoin Paul Kitson up front and Samassi Abou will drop to the bench. Teenage striker Manny Omoyimni, who scored two goals against Crystal Palace on Tuesday, will also be among the substitutes. Leicester have lost their last eight games at Upton Park and have not beaten the Hammers on their own patch since 1966. But O'Neill said: ''People are saying they are our bogey side but these records don't mean anything to me. In my opinion records are there to be broken. '' But whatever the result at Upton Park, O'Neill is delighted by the way his Leicester side have established themselves as a real Premiership force. He said: ''Whether we reach Europe or not the players deserve all the credit in the world for getting us this far. People have been writing us off all season in terms of reaching Europe but we've kept bouncing back and we're still in with a shout." O'Neill has two key players back as Leicester seek their first win at Upton Park in 18 attempts. Garry Parker has recovered from a groin strain while Swedish defender Pontus Kaamark has shrugged off a back problem.

RAMS BID TO FINISH SEASON IN STYLE Derby v Liverpool   REPUBLIC of Ireland midfielder Lee Carsley is determined to bring the curtain down on Derby's first season at Pride Park in style. ''We want to finish the season right,'' insisted Carsley. ''The home defeat by Leicester was part of a bad fortnight for us. ''That's why it was important for us to win at Southampton last Saturday. It's easier to look forward to the Liverpool game with a victory behind us.'' Manager Jim Smith also wants his team to sign off on a better note than last season when they lost their final game at the Baseball Ground to Arsenal. "We don't want tomorrow to be a carnival like it was last year,'' said Smith. ''We must focus ourselves because they are a very good side and if we finish off the season with a victory it would be a big one because we haven't beaten them for 20 years.'' Derby must also win to keep their slim chances of a UEFA Cup place alive, although other results have to go in their favour. ''It's a long shot,'' added Smith. ''But the important job is that we beat Liverpool and if other results go right, it would be great.'' Michael Owen is on the brink of becoming the Premiership's top scorer. His 18 League goals put him on top of the strikers' chart going into the last game of the season. Owen's season total of 23 goals is also just one short of overall top scorers John Hartson and Andy Cole. He said: ''It would be great to finish top scorer. Anything like that is a great bonus at the end of the season. "I was disappointed I missed a penalty against Arsenal so I'll be looking to finish the season on a better note. A goal and another good performance might get me into England's World Cup squad." Owen will lead the attack in a much-weakened Liverpool side without Steve McManaman, Paul Ince, Rob Jones, Jason McAteer, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp. Evans is likely to blood a few youngsters at Pride Park with Danny Williams in the squad for the first time along with Welsh Under-21 youngster Gareth Williams and striker Haukur Ingi Gudmason.

BIG GUNS BACK FOR CHAMPIONS Aston Villa v Arsenal		HODGSON EURO WORRIES Blackburn v Newcastle
INJURIES to key players will force John Gregory to shuffle his pack as Villa take on Arsene Wenger's champions at Villa Park. Three points against the Gunners will guarantee Villa seventh place and, if Chelsea win the Cup Winners' Cup, that will be good enough for a UEFA Cup place. Midfielder Ian Taylor seems certain to miss out with a thigh problem and Simon Grayson may move forward to replace him, although Gregory may give Stan Collymore the chance to end a poor season on a high. Youngster Lee Hendrie is also doubtful with a calf strain, so either David Hughes or Gareth Barry could earn a starting place. Villa are definitely without defenders Steve Staunton and Riccardo Scimeca, who both have hamstring injuries. Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, meanwhile, is bidding to reclaim his place from Michael Oakes after a bout of flu Arsenal will not go easy on Villa, despite the Gunners' Cup Final date with Newcastle next week. Arsene Wenger was disappointed with the performance of his under-strength team at Anfield on Wednesday, admitting: ''We could not find the right concentration and perhaps it was inevitable that it happened. ''I would like to finish the championship now with more than 80 points and we will have a much more experienced team at Villa Park. We have a responsibility to the rest of the League as Aston Villa are one of the teams trying to qualify for Europe.'' Nigel Winterburn, Tony Adams, David Seaman, Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit all return to the starting line-up. Striker Ian Wright has recovered from injury and is expected to lead the attack with Nicolas Anelka.		ROY Hodgson admitted today that he would be ''shattered'' if Blackburn failed in their quest for Europe. And the Rovers manager knows that Newcastle United will be giving their all at Ewood Park in the final game of the season. Blackburn must beat Newcastle to book a place in next season's UEFA Cup, but the Geordies will not be distracted by their FA Cup Final involvement. ''Qualifying for Europe was our goal from day one and for a time it looked as though we would achieve that quite easily,'' Hodgson said. ''Unfortunately results have fallen away. I won't be happy if we fail to qualify - you could say I'd be shattered. Hodgson also played down talk that Newcastle could be at less than full pace. ''All I know is that Kenny Dalglish will be very interested in this game and the chance to put one over on a former club. ''I also know that Alan Shearer and David Batty will be attempting to do very well in the game.'' Newcastle's Steve Watson repeated Hodgson's view. The defender knows he must impress at Blackburn to figure in Kenny Dalglish's Wembley plans. Watson said: ''The game is the last one before the Cup Final so everyone wants to play at Ewood Park. It's a chance to get in the manager's thoughts.'' Newcastle skipper Robert Lee, being tipped to join his old boss Kevin Keegan at Fulham, and defender Steve Howey both trained this week after recovering from foot and calf injury respectively and hope to start.

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