Most previews and fan chatter think Coventry's home advantage and Hull's own inconsistency on the road should just about get the Sky Blues over the line, even though nobody is fully convinced after the Arsenal hiding.

A recurring argument is that this fixture matters more than a normal round two game because it could set the tone for either side's belief for the rest of the season.

Several observers reckon Hull's disciplined, physical approach that stunned Manchester United could nullify Coventry at home and produce another low scoring stalemate like their meetings last season.

There is a strong feeling that Frank Lampard's excellent personal record against Hull as both player and manager is being treated as a genuine psychological edge heading into the game.