Tottenham and Portsmouth lock horns in a vital clash with added intrigue at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
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Tottenham and Portsmouth lock horns in a vital clash with added intrigue at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Harry Redknapp takes on Pompey for the first time since he left Fratton Park to replace Juande Ramos, while Jermain Defoe is set to line up against his former club less than a fortnight after sealing a transfer back to Spurs.
There is also a return to White Hart Lane for Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell, who received abuse from travelling supporters during the fixture between the sides earlier in the season.
Tottenham and Portsmouth have appealed to their fans to be calm but the match remains crucial for both sides.
Spurs have slipped back into the relegation zone after picking up just two points from five games, while Portsmouth are only in a marginally safer position following four successive defeats.
Spurs news
Redknapp was critical of his players in the wake of last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Wigan and has demanded an improved performance against Pompey.
Redknapp experimented with a 5-3-2 formation at the JJB Stadium and is likely to make changes as he searches for a successful formula.
David Bentley, Aaron Lennon and Tom Huddlestone all started on the substitutes' bench and will be hoping to come back into the side, but Jermaine Jenas is doubtful with a calf injury.
Alan Hutton (metatarsal) remains a long-term absentee and Benoit Assou-Ekotto is suspended but goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is expected to shrug off the problem which hindered his movement against Portsmouth.
Roman Pavlyuchenko is likely to be given another chance to see if he can forge a lethal strike partnership with Defoe.
Pompey news
Portsmouth head to London with some confidence following the 2-0 FA Cup victory over Bristol City in midweek, but they have yet to play a league match in 2009 following the postponement of their home game against Manchester City.
Tony Adams, who is keen to bring in reinforcements this month, selected youngster Marc Wilson at Ashton Gate and may hand him another opportunity if Sean Davis fails to recover from a stomach virus.
Arnold Mvuemba is also in contention for a midfield role as Papa Bouba Diop and Richard Hughes are both still out.
Possible starting XIs
Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Bale, Lennon, Zokora, Modric, O'Hara, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko.
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Belhadj, Nugent, Wilson, Kaboul, Kranjcar, Traore, Crouch.
