The last time the Eagles played a league game in front of the Selhurst faithful, the 18,000 present basked in the glory of Division One survival - and they rose to acclaim the achievement of Palace legend Steve Coppell in bringing about that success.

But four months on from that emotional 2-1 victory over Blackburn, it will be a very different Palace on display against QPR.

Coppell has gone and Palace were beaten in their opening league game of the season - 2-0 at Blackburn on Saturday.

Alan Smith is likely to keep faith with Stuart Taylor, his new man between the sticks , who made an encouraging debut last Saturday. The highly rated loan signing from Arsenal will continue in the absence of Fraser Digby who is out with a should injury.

Another new signing, Jamie Pollock, has the grit and the temperament to match the fiery nature of a London derby.

The £750,000 signing - who was stripped of the captaincy at his former club Manchester City after a string of dismissals - looks set to continue alongside Hayden Mullins in the middle of the park.

The home fans will also get their first glimpse of on loan left back Craig Harrison who will plug the gap left by the departed Ashley Cole. Neil Ruddock will captain the side if Simon Rodger fails to recover from an ankle knock, while Finn Mikael Forssell should partner Clinton Morrison up front. The match is live on Sky.

Palace boss Alan Smith said: "I want to give the fans something to cheer about after everything that has happened at Palace. I plan to introduce new training methods and get them thinking again."

"We are such a young team I'll have a job getting them to bed by nine o'clock. I have a lot of 19-year-olds in the squad and it is my job to give them some confidence."

n Spotlight on Palace's new owner Simon Jordan - page 6.