Tottenham can take a giant stride towards qualifying for the last 32 of the Europa League by beating Rubin Kazan at White Hart Lane.
Defensive problems for Spurs
Tottenham can take a giant stride towards qualifying for the last 32 of the Europa League by beating Rubin Kazan at White Hart Lane.
Spurs are level on four points with Rubin at the top of Group A after two games, having followed up their goalless draw against PAOK Salonika with a 3-1 win over Shamrock Rovers.
Harry Redknapp will be determined to secure another victory on Thursday as their next game is the reverse fixture in Russia, when many of his star players are likely to be spared an arduous trip.
Redknapp is still expected to field several fringe players for the home game, having made it clear that his priorities this season lie in trying to mount a strong Premier League challenge.
He does not have many options in defence, though, after Ledley King joined Michael Dawson (Achilles), Vedran Corluka (foot) and William Gallas (calf) on the Spurs injury list on Sunday when he came off against Newcastle with a groin injury.
Sebastien Bassong and Younes Kaboul are therefore the only fit centre-backs at Redknapp's disposal for the visit of Rubin.
Danger man
Redknapp will draft in youngsters like Danny Rose, Andros Townsend and Tom Carroll as he looks to protect his first XI ahead of Sunday's game at Blackburn, while Giovani dos Santos and Roman Pavlyuchenko are also set to be given opportunities.
Sandro (knee) and Aaron Lennon (groin), who both missed Sunday's draw at St James' Park, could also play, with the likes of Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Scott Parker rested.
Rubin go into the game in decent form after beating Spartak Moscow 3-0 at the weekend, although they remain sixth in the Russian league standings.
With no fresh major injury concerns, Rubin manager Kurban Berdyev could name the same starting XI that were held to a 2-2 draw against Greek side PAOK in Kazan two weeks ago.
Obafemi Martins will be one of the main danger men, having scored in his first four games against Spurs whilst at Newcastle.
