West Ham take on Tottenham Hotspur looking to salvage some semblance of joy from a miserable season and Graham Potter has named his team.
With no love lost between West Ham and Spurs, the heat is on Graham Potter for this Premier League clash.
The Hammers and Tottenham have nothing but pride to play for.
But that in itself is worth fighting for given what has unfolded at both clubs this season.
West Ham sit 17th in the table, the worst team in the Premier League outside the three relegated clubs.
Tottenham are just one point and one place better off, though, and have actually lost 19 games this term – three more than the Irons.
Potter will want to make that 20 given Spurs will be focused on their big Europa League semi-final second leg against Bodo-Glimt in midweek.
Tottenham have one foot in the final as they take a 3-1 lead to Norway from the first leg.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Many think the tie is over but Bodo-Glimt are good at home in their compact stadium and Spurs have shown plenty of fragility when the going gets tough this season.
So Ange Postecoglou can’t afford to take any chances with his top players against West Ham.
That only ramps up the pressure on Potter, who snapped after the Hammers collapsed to throw away a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 in the dying stages at Brighton last week.
Potter had some big decisions to make over his team selection after that shambolic surrender.
Would he bring outspoken striker Niclas Fullkrug back into the starting XI to face Tottenham after dropping him at the Amex?
Would James Ward-Prowse be dropped after a series of underwhelming performances given Edson Alvarez’s return to training amid rumours of a ‘disagreement’ with Potter behind the scenes.
Would the Hammers boss stick with a back five or revert to a four?
Would young left-back Ollie Scarles come in for Emerson Palmieri, who was once again subbed off at Brighton – as he has been in every game he’s started under Potter?
Now those questions have been answered.
Because the confirmed West Ham team to face Spurs is in as Potter springs a big surprise.
Potter has finally dropped his favourite Ward-Prowse while 35-year-old Aaron Cresswell returns to the starting XI as the manager persists with a back five.
As predicted by Hammers News earlier today, Fullkrug does indeed return to the starting XI.
Confirmed West Ham starting XI to face Tottenham:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Emerson, Soucek, Paqueta, Bowen, Kudus, Fullkrug.
Lukasz Fabianski, Carlos Soler, Ward-Prowse, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings, Luis Guilherme, Guido Rodriguez and Evan Ferguson are named on the bench.
Confirmed Spurs starting XI for Hammers clash:
Meanwhile this is the confirmed Tottenham team Postecoglou is going with to face the Hammers.
Vicario, Gray, Danso, Davies, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Odobert, Kulusevski, Tel, Richarlison.
Some of the top Premier League pundits have had their say.
Four of the six leading pundits are in agreement about the West Ham vs Spurs clash.
Tottenham have the edge in these derbies throughout history.
Spurs have beaten West Ham 102 times while the Hammers have won 67.
There have been 55 draws.