East London rivals Leyton Orient and Dagenham & Redbridge meet tonight at Brisbane Road in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

A home tie with Southend United awaits the victors of the tie in the second round and with the O’s having already seen off the Shrimpers in the Carling Cup, Russell Slade’s side will feel they have a good chance of further progress.

First they must overcome the Daggers though who have enjoyed a decent start to the campaign since their return to League Two.

John Still’s side currently sit eighth in the division, just outside the playoff places, having won ten points from their opening six games.

They were beaten by a late strike at Hereford on Saturday but have claimed impressive league wins so far, overcoming Paulo Di Canio’s Swindon, while returning from both Macclesfield and Bradford with three points.

Orient meanwhile will be looking to build on recent results after a disappointing start to their season.

A run of five defeats in their opening five league games came to an end with a point on Saturday at Chesterfield and, coupled with last week’s Carling Cup success over Bristol Rovers, Slade’s side will be looking to put together a string of positive results.

The two sides have rarely clashed owing to Dagenham’s status as a relatively new Football League side.

Last season did see four matches between the pair however, with the Daggers taking four points from the league meetings, while Orient ditched Still’s side out of the FA Cup, claiming a 3-2 success in a first round replay.

There have been three meetings in this competition as well, with tonight’s visitors enjoying a 100 per cent record against the O’s – the most recent success coming in October 2007.

Orient pair Dean Cox and Leon McSweeney are doubts ahead of the midweek clash.

Cox played through a virus on Saturday and so could be rested tonight, while McSweeney has been struggling with a back problem.

Dagenham have added Luke Howell to their list of injuries and the midfielder will miss out tonight.