Mauricio Pochettino has urged Tottenham Hotspur to beat West Ham United on Friday evening in order to put pressure on leaders Chelsea in the race for the Premier League.
The north London club head to the London Stadium sitting just four points behind Antonio Conte's side with only four games left in the season.
However, with the Blues not playing until Monday night at home to Middlesbrough, Tottenham can close the gap on their London rivals to just a point with victory over the Hammers.
"I think it's important for us of course and for the Premier League to put pressure, to keep interest until the end of the season," Pochettino said.
"But of course it's a great opportunity for us, Friday, to try to reduce the gap and put a little bit of pressure on them.
"It's true that the gap is important, only four games to play, but of course we will play another derby against West Ham and it will be very, very tough game.
"But in our mind we only try to go and play and try to get three points as that's our challenge, to be in the title race at the end of the game for the title."
Slaven Bilic, though, says his team are ready to finally banish the threat of relegation while hammering a huge dent in Spurs' title hopes.
West Ham still need a point or two to take them out of the equation at the foot of the table and the Croat knows a win against Tottenham would be the perfect way to do it.
"This is a big match anyway," said the West Ham manager.
"It is a derby, whether you need the points or not, it's a derby game against Spurs at our stadium.
"They need points, we need points, so it is a massive game for us and a massive game for them. We will try to get the points that will mathematically secure our status.
"You don't need extra motivation when you play against Tottenham. Last season's game at Upton Park, when we beat them 1-0, was one of the most electrifying atmospheres.
"It is a big game for us, a big game for the supporters, it is under the lights which is always a special one, and we are ready for it."
Team news
Andy Carroll will be handed a late fitness test with the West Ham striker still struggling with the groin problem which ruled him out of the last two matches, and wing-back Arthur Masuaku is also a doubt with a foot injury.
Diafra Sakho (back), Michail Antonio (hamstring), Pedro Obiang (ankle) and Angelo Ogbonna (knee) are all out for the season.
Danny Rose is still not ready to return despite the left back being expected to resume full training next week as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
But Harry Winks (ankle), Erik Lamela (hip) and Cameron Carter-Vickers all remain unavailable.
Opta stats
West Ham have picked up just one win from their last five Premier League meetings with Spurs (D1 L3), however it did come in this fixture last season (1-0 at Boleyn Ground)
Spurs will have the chance to achieve a league double over West Ham for the first time since 2012/13, in what was Andre Villas-Boas' only full season at the club
Harry Kane has netted five times in his last five Premier League games against West Ham, although each of them have come in games at White Hart Lane
Kane has scored 19 goals in 26 Premier League derbies (0.73 goals per game), compared to 51 goals in 83 apps against non-London opposition for Spurs (0.61 goals per game). The England striker has 18 goals in his last 20 Premier League appearances against opposition from London
West Ham's Manuel Lanzini has scored 13 Premier League goals; eight of which have come in 13 London derby appearances (62%)
Between them, Harry Kane and Dele Alli have 38 Premier League goals. This is the most by a Spurs duo in a Premier League season since 1994/95 (also 38 - Klinsmann 20 and Sheringham 18)
A win for Tottenham will see them record their most wins a league campaign since 1966/67 (24)
Since the start of last season, Tottenham have collected 147 points in the Premier League, 15 more than any other team in this period. They have also scored the most goals in this timeframe (140)
Merson's prediction
It's a huge game for Tottenham and also for West Ham if you read the papers regarding Slaven Bilic's future. The speculation regarding his future is not fair at all in my opinion. I'm a big fan of Bilic and it's just been one of those seasons for him and West Ham.
This game is West Ham's cup final but I don't see anything other than a Tottenham win. There would have to be a major shift in form for the Hammers to get anything from it. It's not been the best of seasons for Bilic's men but if you ask any West Ham fan, if they beat Spurs it would turn into a great season for them. The fans would certainly go home from the London Stadium a lot happier.
However, Tottenham can put severe pressure on Chelsea with victory. I know Chelsea have some nice fixtures coming up but if Spurs can move to within one point of the league leaders, it will be a lot different.
We've seen it too many times in football before, you just never know what might happen. Tottenham are playing so well at the moment and I can't see anything three points for Pochettino's side.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-3
Betting
Tottenham are Sky Bet's 2/5 favourites of Friday night, with West Ham up against odds of 6/1, while the draw is priced at 19/5. Pochettino's men are, however, up against the odds themselves to win the Premier League, drifting from 6/1 to 10/1 after failing to gain ground on Chelsea last weekend. Kane heads the first goalscorer betting at 5/2 and is enhanced from 5/1 to 7/1 to net from outside the area in Sky Bet's Price Boosts, while Carroll is considered the hosts' main threat at 8/1 to break the deadlock.
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