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Pardew sensationally quit as manager of Reading last September to take the vacant manager's position at East London rivals West Ham, angering Royals fans everywhere.
On Saturday the want-away boss returns to the Madejski Stadium for the first time since his controversial departure. Although Pards will face a cauldron of fire new Reading manager Steve Coppell insists his players will approach the game no differently to normal.
Coppell asserted: "I know the West Ham game means a lot to people, but I just see it as three points. If the connections from the past get into our thinking it will affect us and we won't play."
"We've got to think of it as three points, and not get deflected into side issues."
Yet even if you were to discard the Pardew factor from Saturday's clash, the fixture would remain as one of high importance. The Hammers are just three points above Reading so a home victory and the 'subordinate' Royals would be level on points with the 'massive' East London side.
At this late stage of the season a win for the Royals will seriously aid their promotion chances. Yet with things so tight at the top a defeat wouldn't be disastrous for either side. Hammers boss Alan Pardew reckons that as things are so close sixth spot could still be up for grabs on the final day of the season.
"It looks like it's going to go to the wire. There are two or three teams below us who could threaten," he suggested to Teamtalk.