Saints travel to White Hart Lane hoping to emulate their trip 10 seasons ago when they won to drive the last nail in Glenn Hoddle's coffin as Spurs manager.

Saints face a crucial week in the Premier League, by this time next Saturday we could be not only vitually guaranteed of 9th place, but well on our way to securing 8th and also chasing down Spurs for a position even higher.

Before we start dreaming of that though we have to take each game as it comes and that means taking on Tottenham on their own patch and getting a result.

When they beat us back in December it was very much on the back of the new manager syndrome, Tim Sherwood was new in the job and Spurs were on the up, since then though things have slipped and Sherwood is being increasingly seen as a maverick whose statements in the press do little to foster team spirit.

In fact rumours abound that Sherwood might be ditched, even that Mauricio Pochettino might be the man to replace him, irony is not too small a word, it could be said if Pochettino masterminds a win at WHL he will be putting himself in prime position for the job.

One man who can smell blood is Glenn Hoddle, despite being out of work as a manager for the last 8 years, he has been vocal in the press this week saying how he nearly got the job ahead of Sherwood earlier in the season, his agenda is clear, he didnt get it then, but he will be happy to take it on now.

But firs there is the matter of three points up for grabs, if Saints do the grabbing then they will only be 5 points behind Spurs.

Our task this week is to beat a team in the top half of the table, something we have only done once so far, do it again at Spurs and it will set us up nicely for what is the crunch game of the 8/9th place battle the visit of Newcastle next Saturday.

Saints do have injury problems though, the engine room of the midfield is struggling Victor Wanyama looks to be out for another period as of yet undetermined, Jack Cork has been out but could return and Morgan Schneiderlin is on the doubtful list, all three are vital to our play, it will be uphill without all of them.

If all three do fail to pass muster then its a question of who will replace them, on a brighter note its an are where we have an abundance of talent, Steven Davis & James Ward Prowse could sit and Gaston Ramirez play in front of them.

The big question though is whether Rickie Lambert will start or again be on the bench, of course there is a case for him to start after a well taken goal and assist but there is also a case that he will be more effective coming off the bench and certainly if the midfield are ravaged by injury we do need those who can work in the side.

Personally I would like to see the manager perhaps experiment with using both Chambers and Clyne on the right, this is the type of game where perhaps hambers will be preferred to Clyne, but using Clyne wide right will offer a bit of pace in the midfield.

My line up would be

Boruc

Chambers Fonte Lovren Shaw

Clyne Davis JWP Lallana
Ramirez
Rodriguez

One criticism levelled at Mauricio Pochettino is that at times he has been too rigid in his team selection, this weekend he might have no option other than to try something different, it will be interesting to see what he does.

Photo: Action Images

Butty101 added 19:17 - Mar 22 The only person criticising MP for being rigid is you. I'm a believer in playing your strongest 11 at all times and not putting square pegs in round holes
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SaintlyTim added 20:24 - Mar 22 A bit harsh Butty! Different opponents sometimes need different personell.
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