Preview: Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Tim Sherwood will be the latest manager to attempt to end Tottenham Hotspur's 24-year winless run at Stamford Bridge when they visit Chelsea on Saturday.

Not since Gary Lineker's late winner in 1990 have Spurs won at the home of their London rivals, a period during which 15 different managers have failed to do so.

Take into account the fact that the Blues are unbeaten in 74 Premier League games under Jose Mourinho on home turf, and have not lost in the competition since going down 3-2 to Stoke City on December 7, and Tottenham's odds lengthen still.

If Sherwood's task doesn't sound difficult enough, he also could be without eight senior players due to injury, with Erik Lamela, Vlad Chiriches and Etienne Capoue definitely absent.

The 45-year-old will be hoping that either Younes Kaboul or Kyle Walker will return to fitness to feature in a defence which is further depleted by injuries to left-backs Danny Rose and Zeki Fryers.

Like Walker, Christian Eriksen was not risked in Denmark's defeat to England on Wednesday, and if his back problem keeps him out this weekend, Aaron Lennon will make his 250th Spurs league appearance.

Despite ending a nine-match scoring drought by scoring the only goal against Cardiff City last Sunday, Roberto Soldado's place is under threat if Sherwood chooses to reinforce his midfield with Paulinho.

The Lillywhites, though, are in desperate need of the points as they attempt to secure Champions League qualification which has been made more unlikely by Liverpool's surge into second place.

The Anfield club are now looking upwards towards Chelsea, who can put seven points between them and a chasing pack who are inactive this weekend with victory over their capital cohabitants.

In-form winger Eden Hazard picked up a knock while playing for Belgium during the international break, but is optimistic that he will be fit to face a club that tried to sign him before he joined the Blues.

England's Ashley Cole was also in action for his country this week, but Mourinho is expected to revert to Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back, and may recall Samuel Eto'o in place of Fernando Torres up front.

Andre Schurrle's well-taken hat-trick should be enough to see him retain his place in the starting lineup, with Oscar the most likely of the attacking midfielders to miss out after his trip to South America and back.

Recent form

Chelsea: WDWLDW

Spurs: WWLLWW

Possible starting lineups

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Ramires; Hazard, Willian, Schurrle; Eto'o

Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton; Sandro, Dembele, Paulinho; Townsend, Lennon, Adebayor

Sports Mole says: 3-1