Crisis is a word that gets bandied about too often in football, but there's no question that Tottenham Hotspur are in a full-blown emergency as relegation from the Premier League looms large.
Time is running out for interim boss Igor Tudor to whip these struggling Spurs stars into shape and save their Premier League status. Tottenham have lost five top-flight matches in a row, and Tudor each of his first four games in Thomas Frank's old seat.
It's probably fair to say that of all the Londoners' remaining chances to turn things around, their big moment isn't going to arrive this weekend, with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on the cards.
Arne Slot's side have suffered a poor title defence, but the scale of Spurs' current injury crisis has created an alarming situation indeed.
Spurs' injury nightmare
Micky van de Ven is suspended for this one after picking up a red card against Crystal Palace last week. That blow has been exacerbated by Cristian Romero's expected absence, sidelined along with Joao Palhinha due to concussion protocols; the fiery pair accidentally clashed heads during the midweek defeat to Atletico Madrid.
These absentees only scratch the surface of a disastrous situation that's threatening to consume the club, with Yves Bissouma out with a muscular injury and Conor Gallagher unlikely to make the cut after coming down with a fever.
Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain long-term inhabitants in the medical room.
Perhaps ENIC Group and sporting director Johan Lange are simply biding their time ahead of next week, with Sunday's tie considered an unrealistic one as far as returning to winning ways.
It doesn't seem likely that Tudor will see out the duration of his interim contract at N17, but on Sunday, he could help rekindle some of the dormant confidence that has formed the central crux of the club's imperilled position.
He could do this by handing a talented young defender their very first senior start.
Academy talent in line for first Spurs start
Tottenham need to rally over the final few months of the season, and the fanbase can at least take solace in the fact that Romero and Van de Ven will be free to reconnect in central defence after the forthcoming Premier League fixture.
However, in their absence, Tudor might want to hand 17-year-old defender Jun'ai Byfield his first professional start, with the academy talent having edged his way into first-team contention over the past few months and now ready to take the next step forward.
While this weekend feels like an inauspicious time for him to make his first start in the top division, it would be a significant show of faith in a player whose talent has already seen him make three senior appearances, including his Premier League debut in the draw to Manchester City last month.
Physical and slick on the ball, Byfield has all the attributes to become a top centre-back in the Premier League. His tenacity and will to win could bring the energy and enthusiasm that the club have been searching for over the course of the season, and in that, he might even be a better pick at Anfield than someone like Radu Dragusin, who has had a torrid time since returning from injury in late December.
The fact that Byfield has spoken of his desire to lead Tottenham's senior squad one day is a testament to his character and potential on the major stage, and with someone like Dragusin looking apt for a summer sale, maybe unleashing him in Liverpool could give him some confidence and raise the mood of the crowd.
Of course, we don't want a repeat of the Antonin Kinsky situation, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and Byfield has what it takes to stand out.