Tottenham host Sunderland at White Hart Lane, with qualification for next season's Champions League at stake for the hosts.

The Black Cats, led by the colourful Paolo di Canio, have avoided relegation but are unlikely to be easy opponents under their tough-talking Italian manager.

Spurs must beat Sunderland and hope Newcastle United can, at least, hold Arsenal to a draw at St James' Park, to secure fourth place this season. Should the results pan out that way, not only will Tottenham join Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs in Europe's elite club contest next term, he will also eliminate any need for a play-off between the Blues and the Gunners to decide third place.

The reverse fixture finished 2-1 in favour of Spurs, with Aaron Lennon scoring the winner.

Tottenham Hotspur
Reuters

Where to Watch Live

Kick-off is set for 4pm BST. Live coverage will be on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports 2 HD.

Overview

Spurs beat Stoke City 2-1 in their last game but they needed in-demand Welsh international Gareth Bale to be at his usual best again. The 23-year-old has had a stand-out season so far and fully justifies interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.

The win keeps AVB within a point of his club's north London rivals, who hammered Wigan Athletic 4-1 in their last game. Tottenham come into this game with three wins from the last five games, including a memorable 3-1 comeback win over Manchester City. They have not lost since Fulham beat them 1-0 at the Lane; that was in mid-March.

What will worry AVB though, is the fact that five of the last eight games have finished 2-2; if they draw again this time, it won't matter what happens at St James' Park.

Meanwhile, the Latics' defeat to Arsenal means Sunderland have avoided relegation this season. The Black Cats drew 1-1 with Southampton in their last game and with Stoke City in the game before that. Prior to that, they were hammered 6-1 by Aston Villa.

Those three results brought an abrupt end to a two-game winning streak - at Newcastle and against Everton. Overall, Sunderland have travelled poorly this year, losing 10 games and scoring only 21 goals. This is unlikely to change against a Tottenham side that will start the game at high tempo and looking for an early goal.

Team Form

Tottenham Hotspur

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W D W D W
  • Last Result: Stoke City 1 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur
Sunderland v Southampton
Reuters

Sunderland

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): D D L W W
  • Last Result: Sunderland 1 - 1 Southampton

Team News

Belgian midfielder Moussa Dembele (hamstring) has recovered but will likely start from the bench. There are no other injury problems (apart from Sandro's long-term casualty) and AVB will probably start the same team from the last game.

Probable Line-Up: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Vertonghen; Lennon, Huddlestone, Parker, Dempsey; Bale; Adebayor

Left-back Danny Rose is on loan from Tottenham and ineligible for this match. Former Manchester United defender John O'Shea will move to cover. Titus Bramble could make his return to centre-back. The real problem, though, is the suspension of Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner. Lee Cattermole and striker Steven Fletcher are injured and ruled out.

Probable Line-Up: Mignolet; Colback, Bramble, Cuellar, O'Shea; Bardsley, Larsson, N'Diaye, McClean; Johnson; Graham

Barclays London