Tottenham are back in Premier League action on Saturday afternoon, with London rivals West Ham United making the short trip across the capital.
This is a fixture that means plenty to fans, and while there doesn't seem to be immediate pressure on Thomas Frank despite a distinctly underwhelming start to his tenure in N17, the failure to secure three points against a woeful Hammers outfit could thrust the fanbase into a state of anarchy.
Defeat to Aston Villa last weekend has placed greater importance on our Premier League campaign, and we mustn't forget that there's a Champions League to go and win, too!
Down in 14th but involved in a congested middle class, Spurs still have the capacity to make a second-half push. Winning here, given the fixtures that greet us in February, is a necessity, though.
Frank provided the latest team news in Thursday's pre-match press conference, and here's the XI he could pick for West Ham's visit.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs. West Ham (4-2-3-1)
GK: Guglielmo Vicario—The performative Italian is likely to remain Tottenham's No. 1 until the end of the season, with rumours suggesting Antonín Kinsky may depart on loan before the January deadline.
RB: Pedro Porro—Porro's played a lot of football this season, probably too much. He would've appreciated the full week off.
CB: Cristian Romero—After serving a one-game suspension, the captain will return to Frank's side and likely face up against West Ham's new striker, Taty Castellanos.
CB: Micky van de Ven—Spurs may soon be in a battle to retain their Dutch star, but we don't need to cross that bridge just yet. Van de Ven will have his skipper alongside him on Saturday.
LB: Destiny Udogie—Ben Davies has been useful on his recent appearances, but Frank shouldn't hesitate to return Udogie to the XI after recovering from another injury setback.
CM: João Palhinha—The divisive Portuguese offered plenty of vigour in last weekend's FA Cup defeat, and he's bound to enjoy an uptick in starts, despite Conor Gallagher's arrival, after Rodrigo Bentancur's injury.
CM: Lucas Bergvall—Gallagher's arrival should convince Frank to drop Bergvall into a box-to-box role, and I'd love to see the Swede, who produced his best performance of the season in the reverse fixture, supply dynamism alongside Palhinha.
RW: Wilson Odobert—Mohammed Kudus' injury is significant, because Spurs have a dearth of options down the right. Randal Kolo Muani is an awkward fit here, but Odobert is more than adept.
AM: Xavi Simons—I'm an advocate for Frank using Gallagher as his most advanced midfielder, and I'm sure we'll see our new signing for a good chunk of Saturday's game. However, Xavi deserves to retain his place in the No. 10 role after impressing in the cup.
LW: Mathys Tel—Tottenham lost their momentum against Aston Villa after Tel went off, and it's clear that the young Frenchman should be playing a big role for Frank's side during the second half of the season.
ST: Randal Kolo Muani—Dominic Solanke will soon be ready for a start, but there's a midweek fixture to consider. While Richarlison is out, Kolo Muani had a nice bounce-back game last weekend and is set to lead the line against West Ham.