Manchester United protects a nine-year unbeaten streak Saturday against a Tottenham team aiming to influence the outcome of the Premier League title race still further.
United has been relatively untroubled by Spurs since 2001, twice scoring five goals and twice scoring four, but the north London club is arguably the league's form team after beating leader Chelsea and third-place Arsenal last week.
Tottenham is chasing a first ever appearance in the Champions League and a third straight win over a title contender could let Chelsea stretch its lead to four points when it hosts Stoke on Sunday - albeit without suspended captain John Terry.
Spurs might normally be expected to ease off after beating their two biggest rivals within four days, but they need victory to make sure they stay ahead of Manchester City in the contest for fourth place.
"We have to keep concentrating until the end of the season because it's not finished," Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul said. "We've done well, but we've got to put that behind us and keep going.
"City losing at the weekend was good for us, and if we keep playing like we have done over the last two games, there is no reason why we shouldn't finish in fourth place."
City's 1-0 loss to United coupled with Tottenham's 2-1 win over Chelsea trimmed the Blues' lead to a single point and lifted Spurs above City.
Few fans expected Tottenham to take many points from Arsenal or Chelsea after Spurs lost a grueling FA Cup semifinal 2-0 to Portsmouth at Wembley the previous weekend.
And despite those wins, few will be expecting much at Old Trafford.
Tottenham's last win over United was in May 2001, when United had already won a third straight Premier League title. Spurs can count just two other Premier League wins against the Red Devils and has not won at Old Trafford since 1989.
Tottenham could have captain Ledley King back after the defender was rested against Chelsea because of his chronic knee injury, while Kaboul may continue in the unfamiliar role of right back because of injuries to other players.
Arsenal is six points behind Chelsea and effectively out of contention for the title but could do Tottenham a huge favor if it beats City on Saturday.
Tottenham is just two points ahead of City and both clubs have four games left.
Russia playmaker Andrey Arshavin could be back for the Gunners following a calf injury that has kept him out for the past three weeks, with his team aiming for a strong finish to lift morale ahead of what it hopes will be a more solid title challenge next season.
"This season has been tough, tight and sometimes it was even difficult for me and my team but in general it was not bad," Arshavin said. "Hopefully we will win the last three games.
"We have got a lot of goals at the end of the games, we managed to do some comebacks and we have to use that spirit next season. We can fight again next season."
Chelsea can end United's three-year stint as champions if it wins its three remaining games, but Chelsea will be without Terry against Stoke after the England international was sent off at White Hart Lane.
"Of course there is pressure in our minds because we need to win our games if Man U win theirs," Chelsea midfielder Deco said. "If you said on the first day of the Premier League in August we would be one point clear with three games to go, two at home and one game away, we would all say 'OK, I'll sign.' It could be better if we won or Man U lost, OK, but it didn't happen."
Branislav Ivanovic may step into central defense alongside Alex.
Also Sunday, Liverpool is at Burnley, Fulham is at Everton and Birmingham is at Aston Villa. Saturday's other games are: Bolton vs. Portsmouth, Hull vs. Sunderland, West Ham vs. Wigan and Wolverhampton vs. Blackburn.
Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion have already secured the two automatic promotion spots from the second-tier League Championship, leaving the teams below them to fight it out for the four playoff berths.
Nottingham Forest and Cardiff have already secured spots and fifth-place Leicester can take another if it wins at Preston on Saturday. Sixth-place Swansea is at Sheffield United, while seventh-place Blackpool is at Peterborough.
