SEAN O'Driscoll has made light of the fact Cherries are favourites to reach the fourth round of the League Cup for only the third time in their history tonight.

O'Driscoll's side host Coca-Cola Championship outfit Cardiff City in an eagerly-awaited Carling Cup third round clash at Dean Court (7.45pm kick-off).

And with Cherries going into the tie on the back of a seven-match unbeaten league run and the Bluebirds currently struggling, the bookies are taking no chances.

But although the three major firms - Coral (11-8), Ladbrokes (11-8) and William Hill (13-10) - have all installed Cherries as favourites, O'Driscoll says he would beg to differ.

O'Driscoll said: "There's a gulf in class between all divisions now and it's a big one between our league and the Championship. If you were to ask any side that goes up they would tell you that.

"We've watched their last three games and they've done extremely well. Our last two games have been against the so-called bottom-of-the-table teams in our division and they've been two of the hardest games we've had.

"They've got some class players. Daniel Gabbidon is a Welsh international, Graham Kavanagh, who we know from his Stoke days, is an excellent player and Peter Thorne, who we know from his Bristol City days, is a good goalscorer. They've also got good players like Alan Lee and Paul Parry.

"Their team is full of good players and I suppose Lennie Lawrence has been really frustrated that they haven't done as well as they should have on paper. If we're favourites then people make us favourites, but I'm sure the players won't be thinking that way."

O'Driscoll, whose squad booked their place in the third round following a memorable penalty shoot-out triumph at Blackburn last month, is expected to name an unchanged side as Cherries attempt to reach the fourth round for the first time since 1964.

He added: "We rode our luck a bit against Blackburn so if we get the same sort of luck then who knows. We're in form at the moment, we're scoring lots of goals and if the back five can keep Cardiff down and keep a clean sheet then hopefully the front six can win it for you.

"We've just won six out of our last seven so it would be stupid to change the side. We had to make a change after losing Warren Cummings and it caused us a problem on Saturday so we will have to look at that to see what we can do to lessen the effect.

"But I'm sure the players who have played the last few games will be itching to carry on."

Cardiff, fourth from bottom and with three wins in the Championship, look set to make a number of changes for the trip to the south coast.

Loan signings Gary O'Neil from Portsmouth and Sunderland's Darren Williams are both ineligible having already played for their respective clubs in the competition this season.

Their places are likely to be taken by Rhys Weston and Lee Bullock, while second string goalkeeper Neil Alexander is expected to be drafted in for his first start of the season.

Wales defender Danny Gabbidon, unearthed by Richard O'Kelly during his time at WBA, could be rested with James Collins deputising, while winger Paul Parry is back following injury.

Bluebirds boss Lennie Lawrence said: "Bourne-mouth are a well organised side and pass the ball well. It will be a tough game and we'll have to be at our best."

Cherries: (from) Moss, Young, Maher, Broadhurst, Howe, Elliott, Stock, Spicer, O'Connor, Fletcher, Hayter, Connell, Holmes, Browning, Coutts, Stewart.

Cardiff City: (from) Alexander, Weston, Collins, Vidmar, Anthony, Barker, McAnuff, Bullock, Kavanagh, Parry, Ledley, Thorne, Lee, Fleetwood, Jerome, Gabbidon, Lee-Barrett.

Cherries are urging supporters to buy their tickets for tonight's match as early as possible to help avoid congestion outside the ticket office. Yesterday afternoon, the club were reporting that the clash was "close to being a sell-out for home supporters" and that "just over 1,000 tickets" were left.

Cherries are due to host Pontin's Holidays Combination rivals Bristol Rovers at New Milton's Fawcett's Field tomorrow (2pm kick-off).