WEST HAM number two Steve Clarke insists Saturday's game with Chelsea will be an ideal opportunity for the team to claim their first big scalp of the season.

The Hammers have claimed impressive draws at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates this year, but they have yet to topple one of the league's Big Four. And there would be no better time to buck that trend, as the Irons seek to cement seventh place, and a Europa League spot, with Tottenham breathing heavily down their necks.

Clarke insists the team will go into the game looking for a victory, inkeeping with the attacking mentality he and Gianfranco Zola have brought to the side since their arrival last year.

“We have to be organised and respect their strengths, and be prepared to play against them,” he said. “If you're just going to sit there and defend it's going to be a long 90 minutes. We've been playing well recently, we've not beaten one of the top teams yet and Saturday would be a good time to start.

“I'm sure they'll think about resting a few players for the match. Hopefully it will be a very attractive and open game of football that everyone can enjoy and we get the right result.”

While some English clubs have viewed European competition as a necessary evil, and a distraction from the league, Clarke insists it is a benchmark they must aspire to.

“I want to be involved in European football every year. If it's one thing I miss with Chelsea it's involvement with the Champions League. Why should the club not want to be involved. You have to push yourself and challenge yourself. Maybe next season we'll get to a stage where we wish we hadn't qualified. But we'll deal with that when we come to it. If there's one tangible thing we can take from this season is qualification for Europe. If you have ambition then you have to chase the highest that you can get.

“If the season stopped today we could look back with satisfaction but the season's not finished yet. We want to see the job out and get seventh.”

Clarke was reluctant to take the credit for the team's notable ascent this season, and insisted it was the players who should take the plaudits for putting the coaches' ideas into practice.

“The club wanted us to be together as a team and work on a long term project, not a quick fix,” added Clarke. “The club have backed us 100 per cent and we'd like to repay that faith and get as high up the league as we can. Anyone can walk in with ideas, but the players have to take the credit for making those idea work and embracing them.

“We came in with a philosophy of how we wanted them to play and it wasn't easy for them at the start. Went on a terrible run but they kept believing and we kept telling them that this was the right way and eventually this season, we've had our rewards.”