PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur head into their Champions League encounter on Wednesday night knowing that defeat would leave them on the brink of being unable to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
Both clubs have already lost out to Barcelona and Inter Milan in Group B, and will be aware that they must take advantage of the double-header at the Philips Stadion and Wembley Stadium.
PSV Eindhoven
© ReutersPSV secured a return to European football's premier competition by winning the Eredivisie last season and under new boss Mark van Bommel, the Boeren look well set to regain their domestic crown having recorded nine successive wins.
The Dutch giants would have hoped for an easier draw in the group stages of this tournament, but being given tests with Barcelona, Inter and Spurs made the club underdogs to progress and that is how Group B has panned out so far.
PSV were undone by a Lionel Messi masterclass at Camp Nou during the middle of September, and it left the onus on Van Bommel's side to at least avoid defeat against Inter.
The signs were positive when Pablo Rosario put PSV into the lead, but Inter's comeback has left PSV sitting at the bottom of the group and aware that they must come out on top in their double-header with Spurs.
A six-point advantage for both Barca and Inter will have led to both Van Bommel and Mauricio Pochettino being aware that the games between the clubs could be the determining factor for who gains a place in the Europa League after Christmas.
That will currently be regarded as second best for both teams, but it is a realistic target unless they are able to record a win at Camp Nou or San Siro later in the competition.
PSV have only scored once in their opening two European fixtures, but 36 goals have been netted in nine league games with Luuk de Jong and Hirving Lozano both contributing eight strikes.
Lozano has been strongly linked with a future move to the Premier League with Spurs said to hold an interest in the Mexico international, and the 23-year-old will be motivated to make an impact on Wednesday night.
Recent form: LL
Recent form (all competitions): WWWLWW
Tottenham Hotspur
© ReutersTottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a strong start to their Premier League campaign, with seven wins from nine matches leaving the club just two points adrift of Manchester City and Liverpool.
However, letting a lead slip against Inter Milan at San Siro could prove to be the result which leaves Spurs out of the reckoning in Group B and it places huge significance on Wednesday's match.
Topping a group which included Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund last season and only suffering a narrow two-legged defeat to Juventus in the last 16 left Spurs as one of the dark horses for this year's competition, but defeat at PSV would give the North London outfit plenty of work to do just to make the Europa League.
Pochettino has had to contend with a number of latecomers after their performances at the World Cup and several injuries to key players, but Spurs have reached a stage in their development where not taking part in European football after Christmas would come as a huge blow.
The Argentine may have feared the worst after the setback at Inter with it being the club's third successive defeat but since that result, four wins and progress in the EFL Cup have come in their last half-a-dozen outings.
Spurs were ultimately outclassed in their showdown with Barcelona, but there were still positives to take from that match and the English side would have been facing a different scenario had they taken one of their chances before Messi netted a game-clinching fourth during the closing stages.
The debate over how Pochettino uses Harry Kane will continue, but there are players in the squad who remain fresh and Erik Lamela will hope for more game time this week having netted his fifth goal in eight outings on Saturday.
Hugo Lloris has also stepped up the level of his performances in recent weeks, and the French stopper could have a big role to play at the Philips Stadion.
Recent form: LL
Recent form (all competitions): WDWLWW
Team News
© ReutersDele Alli is expected to return to training this week after a thigh injury, but Wednesday's match may come too soon for the England international.
The same could apply to both Danny Rose and Victor Wanyama - who are also closing in on a return - but Christian Eriksen is a likely starter having come off the bench against West Ham United at the weekend.
Serge Aurier could be handed a start at right-back, while Son Heung-min may take the place of Lucas Moura after remaining as an unused substitute at the weekend.
Mousa Dembele is in contention to feature in midfield with Harry Winks having completed 90 minutes for club and country on two occasions since the start of last week.
PSV Eindhoven's Ryan Thomas is sidelined with a serious knee injury, but Van Bommel should be able to name his strongest starting lineup for the visit of the Premier League side.
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Zoet; Dumfries, Schwaab, Viergever, Angelino; Rosario, Hendrix, Pereiro; Lozano, Bergwijn, De Jong
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Lamela, Eriksen, Son; Kane
Head To Head
This week's meeting will represent just the third competitive game between the two clubs, with both teams sharing a win apiece.
The two previous clashes came in the 2008 UEFA Cup, with PSV able to claim a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane thanks to a goal from Jefferson Farfan.
Spurs won by the same scoreline in the Netherlands, but it was PSV who progressed through to the next round with a 6-5 triumph on penalties.
We say: PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
PSV have been hugely impressive on the domestic scene, suggesting that they have the confidence to cause a surprise or two in Europe. However, Spurs possess the greater big-game experience and we expect Pochettino's team to edge to victory on Wednesday.
