Under Martin Jol, Tottenham have continued to progress steadily in recent times leading to many commentators billing them as the 'best of the rest' outside of the top-four sides of Chelsea, Arsenal, United and Liverpool.
Certainly, the club has made tremendous progress since Jol was appointed alongside Frank Arnesen and the duo began acquiring some of the best young talent in English football (Dawson, Davenport, Lennon, Huddlestone etc) but were jolted when Arnesen was seduced by the lure of Chelsea.
Since then Jol has began developing the team well, adding the likes of Mido and more imprtantly for this season Edgar Davids. They look a highly organised side throughout and at present sit in fourth place in the league, capitalising on some poor form by rivals Arsenal to set themselves for a Champions League challenge.
Tottenham have had the better of us in recent times, looking for their fourth win in five games at City and have won ten of sixteen all time in the Premier League but we can boast a 100% record on Sky this season.
Pearce will be hoping some of the recent endeavour shown against Chelsea and Middlesbrough can be translated into a little more quality that will ensure three points are taken.
It is difficult to see other alternatives Pearce has at the moment to alter things (assuming Haapala and Riera are not yet ready), with an ever growing reliance on Joey Barton becoming worrying, but a positive move for me may be forced by the absence of Sibierski in that Stephen Ireland may get a start.
The defence looks to have steadied itself again following the debacle at Wigan and I don't think there will be too many goals, more than likely a 1-1 draw being the outcome.