With Tottenham's confidence sky-high after a draw against Real Madrid and a 4-1 triumph over Liverpool in the past week, Wednesday's League Cup clash at home against West Ham looks an enticing opportunity to book a cup quarterfinal as well.
After all, while Spurs have won six of their last seven games, their London rivals go into this match on the back of a 3-0 home defeat against newly promoted Brighton, with Slaven Bilic under pressure.
Yet that very dichotomy could make this a tough tie for Tottenham. The north Londoners' last two results will do little to change Mauricio Pochettino's view that his side can aim higher than League Cup glory and should be focusing on Premier League and Champions League success instead, while Bilic desperately needs a result -- beating Spurs to reach the last eight of a cup would be the perfect tonic.