With each game taking on more and more weight between now and the end of the season, Spurs today face Chelsea in the FA Cup Quarter Final. Despite the hoodoo of not having beaten Chelsea in the modern era now consigned to distant memory, following the Dawson and Lennon show earlier this season at White Hart Lane, Spurs go into this game as underdogs, with a series of injuries to contend with. There is also the daunting prospect of facing a team unbeaten at home in regulation time (Charlton won on penalties last season) and with argueably the most on form striker in the top flight - Didier Drogba.
Spurs are without captain Ledley King, and both his deputies in Paul Robinson and Robbie Keane - in their absence the captains armband will be handed to one of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Dawson or Steed Malbranque. Also absent will be Jermaine Jenas, however the club reports that Mido is now fit to return and he will likely be on the bench.
The encouraging debut of Abel Taraabt against West Ham may see the youngster pitched into the fray at somepoint during the game, but for the most part the side will feature a similar line up to recent goal gluts - having scored 17 goals in the last five games the belief that Spurs can give Chelsea a run for their money must be strong.
Defensively the only likely alteration will be the enforced change of Cerny for Robinson - new signing Ben Alnwick is also injured and the Czech keeper with therefore get his highest profile start since joining the club. Cerny's performances in both the league and the Peace Cup have shown him to be a capable deputy to Robbo and he will relish the chance to play in an FA Cup Quarter final.
In midfield, Lennon is once again expected to start on the left of midfield, where although argueably less effective he has more discipline than Malbranque, who when played on the left tends to roam the entire pitch - hence his likely inclusion on the right flank. With Lee Young Pyo getting forward in support and Chimbonda doing likewise on the opposite flank, expect both fullbacks to provide the width wherever possible in Martin Jol's familar system. Tainio and Zokora will fill the central midfield berths and will both need to be on top form, given that they will be facing the likes of Makelele, Ballack and Lampard.
Up front its hard to see Berbatov being dropped on recent form, and with the return of Jermain Defoe from domestic suspension, the front pair pick themselves, given Mido has only resumed training in the last couple of days.
So how then should Spurs approach this game? There will likely be a clash of systems on paper with Mourinho favouring three central midfielders in the aforementioned Ballack, Makelele and Lampard - on the pitch this may result in one of the Spurs wide players - most likely Malbranque, tucking in and forming a three with Lennon then given licence to play a more forward placed supporting role for the strikers - indeed in recent weeks Lennon's positioning has on several occasions seen him bursting through the middle of the park rather than down the flanks. Key to getting a result will be ensuring that Spurs impose themselves on the game early, get the ball into the feet of Berbatov and most importantly keeping the tempo and attacking mentality demonstrated in recent weeks. Sitting back and inviting Chelsea pressure will be suicidal given the quality they possess.
Spurs have shown in the last month that they fear nobody, that they are able to score goals for fun, from a variety of areas of the pitch, and must believe that at the very least they should be taking this tie back to WHL for a replay - if not stealing a famous win.
COYS!