Last year an English Premier League game between Tottenham and Newcastle United would have been one involving a fight for the Champions League places. However, this season, it is a battle between a club looking to firm their grip on qualification to Europe's elite competition against one desperate to get themselves out of the mires of relegation.
Newcastle have not quite had the season they would have envisaged after finishing an impressive fifth in the Premier League last season, with injuries and a lack of confidence taking them near the relegation places.
However, the January transfer window has been kind to the Magpies, allowing Alan Pardew to strengthen the squad with five signings - all from the French league - some of whom have already made a big impact.
Two wins on the bounce, including a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Chelsea last weekend, have taken Newcastle to 15th, six points off the relegation zone. The most impressive of the winter signings has been Moussa Sissoko, who has run the show since making his debut against Aston Villa.
The last time the two sides met at White Hart Lane, Newcastle were crushed by Spurs 5-0, and Alan Pardew is determined to make amends this time around.
"We had three or four tricky days last year -- we've had many more than that this year -- and that was one of them," Pardew said.
"Spurs played very, very well that day. There was a lot of business with Harry (Redknappp) perhaps going to England and everything else, and we caught them on that day when it was all coming together for them.
"This'll be a different scenario. We have got ourselves on the up a little bit and hopefully we can turn the result around."
Spurs are in a bit of a striker crisis at the moment with Jermain Defoe ruled out for at least a couple of weeks with an ankle injury, while Emmanuel Adebayor will only arrive Friday after his exertions with Togo in the Africa Cup of Nations.
"He had issues to take care of as the tournament finished for Togo, so at the moment we're trying to see if we can have him back either for today (Thursday) or Friday's training session," Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas told reporters.
"I spoke to him Monday morning. I know where he is, I'm not sure if I want to make it public.
"Obviously we have to take a look at him first. We don't have any news regarding injuries from him, so he's going to be selected for sure.
"I have to make a decision whether he will be in the starting XI or not."
Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas will most probably play Gareth Bale, who has been easily their best player this season, as a striker, with Clint Dempsey playing behind him.
"There is a possibility that we continue with the 4-4-2 with Gareth as a striker," Villas-Boas added.
"He's having a tremendous year. I think he's such an outstanding player all round. His performance yesterday was outstanding once again. He's certainly amongst the five best players (in the league)."
Newcastle are still without their winger Hatem Ben Arfa, while Danny Simpson remains a doubt, but the recent return of Yohan Cabaye from injury has done wonders to the team's performance.
Expected lineups: Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Vertonghen, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Parker, Dembele, Holtby; Dempsey, Bale.
Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, Taylor, Coloccini, Santon; Perch, Cabaye; Gouffran, Sissoko, Guttierez; Cisse.
Prediction: 2-2
