West Ham United's visit to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford is sandwiched between two huge Europa Conference League semi-final games against AZ Alkmaar.

We spoke with football.london journalist Jonty Colman to get his thoughts ahead of Sunday's encounter in TW8, as well as the Hammers' European hopes.

West Ham United are 15th in the Premier League table going into the final three fixtures of the 2022/23 season. How would you summarise their campaign to date?

If you went back to the start of the season and said that, with three games to go, West Ham would only be seven points clear of the relegation zone, you would be forgiven for thinking it had been a terrible season.

In some ways, it has been, but it still could be really special as they are in another European semi-final, with this game being between the two legs against AZ Alkmaar.

The win over Manchester United last Sunday pretty much sealed safety, so West Ham can attack the AZ games in the way they should do.

It is hard to say the job is completely done in the Premier League, but in 10 of the last 11 seasons, 37 points has been enough to stay up, and they play Leeds and Leicester in the last two league games as well.

Talking of the Europa Conference League, given the way the domestic campaign has gone for the Hammers, do you think European football has been a help or a hindrance?

At times both, but largely a help. I say that because, when they have not been playing so well, or they have had bad spells of form, they have been able to go into Europe with a bit of a fresh mind, make a few changes and use that as a free hit.

West Ham have done brilliantly in Europe, playing 12 games, winning 11 and drawing one. That has helped them pick up form and confidence in the Premier League.

Thursday-Sunday football is incredibly difficult due to the turnaround and travel, but West Ham’s results off the back of those games - despite David Moyes saying he finds it difficult - have actually been quite good.

Moyes has often said this season, when things haven’t been going well, or just in general, the European campaign has kept West Ham’s head above water and that certainly seems to be the case.

Some of the teams below West Ham have never really looked likely to get out of the scrap, so do you think there was ever any real worry they would slip into real danger?

When they came back after Christmas, they lost two games, the second of which was against Brentford, and then you felt there was real concern. There’s been a few times where it has been heavily reported that, if Moyes had lost, that was probably him gone, but he kept winning those games under pressure.

A few weeks ago, they had a run of only one defeat in 10 but, prior to the Manchester United win, they were on a run of three-straight defeats, though, to be fair, two of them were against Liverpool and Manchester City.

But all the teams below them have to be in near-perfect form to get anywhere near West Ham now.

Weirdly, one of the Hammers' strengths has been stepping up when everything looks as though it is going to collapse. Without that trait, they would be right in the thick of it at this stage.

Which player should Brentford fans keep an eye on at the Gtech?

From an attacking perspective, probably Said Benrahma. He scored his sixth league goal against United, albeit it was basically thrown in for him, and he has 10 for the season, with only Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen having scored more.

Antonio is in a great patch of form, too, and he looks to be back to his former self, but depending on the AZ tie, Danny Ings may be given a run-out at Brentford.

Lucas Paqueta is looking really on it, too. A few of the summer signings have perhaps taken a bit longer to settle than West Ham would have liked, but Paqueta looks so good and is an absolute joy to watch. He is creative, a great tackler and is strong, physical and skilful.

How is Moyes likely to set up his side in west London?

He has gone with a back three against Brentford both times this season, in an attempt to match up with their style and, as it is away, he may look to do the same again, though he has largely stuck with a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 for most games.

He was forced into a back three against Manchester City last week but, if I was to guess, based on what it has looked like recently, it would be a 4-3-3.

Brentford have won all three of the Premier League meetings between the two sides. What’s your score prediction for this one?

I am going to sit on the fence with a 1-1 draw.

Brentford have had a brilliant season but I don’t think they have got an awful lot to play for now, barring pride.