For both Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino, the final is a chance to cement this season's progressive form by putting a trophy in the cabinet. That always helps to boost the confidence of players and fans alike, not least in trusting the ability of their manager.

The high stakes should produce an enthralling contest. It will be exciting too, if Tottenham can raise themselves to the heights of their 5-3 home win over Chelsea on New Year's Day, although the memory of that triumph has to be tempered by their 3-0 defeat in the away league fixture only four weeks earlier.

In fact, it is Tottenham's insecurity at the back - evident in both matches, as well as in a 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last season - that may prove the decisive factor tomorrow.

Mourinho must be worried by Harry Kane, who destroyed Chelsea in the New Year's Day match. Kane scored twice, won a penalty and set up another goal for Nacer Chadli, turning the match on its head after Chelsea had taken an early lead.

Mourinho claimed afterwards Chelsea should have had a penalty just before Tottenham's equaliser and that the match would have been dead if his team had gone 2-0 up, and perhaps he was right, but after that they were unable to cope with Kane's power and directness.

The much-maligned Europa League played a vital role in Kane's rise. He did not appear in the starting line-up for a Premier League match this season until November 9, but by then his case for inclusion was irresistible because he had scored seven goals in six Europa League appearances.

Since breaking into the side, Kane has scored in 10 Premier League matches and Tottenham have won seven of those.

When he has not scored, they have won just two out of six in the Premier League, which identifies him as the key figure for Pochettino's side.

Chelsea must cope without one of their main players after Nemanja Matic's controversial sending-off last weekend. Since Matic's arrival at Chelsea last January he has been their primary defensive midfielder and it is notable that two of their most high-profile defeats - their first league loss away to Newcastle and the FA Cup upset against Bradford - came when he was absent.

In the end, though, the final might be decided by Tottenham's own lack of security. It is difficult to escape the fact that they have conceded three goals in both league games against Chelsea this season, and relying on Kane to get them out of trouble every time is a dangerous policy.

Tottenham's suspect defence is also evident from the fact that they have the highest goals-against (18 in nine games) in the mini-league of the top seven teams in the Premier League this season. Chelsea, meanwhile, have scored in every one of their eight games in that category and lost only once.

Chelsea's win rate when scoring this season is 68 per cent, which suggests their odds are reasonable given that a Tottenham shutout is unlikely.

The best bet for those wanting to oppose Chelsea might be 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes.

By the time the final kicks off, Chelsea's lead in the Premier League might have been cut to two points by Manchester City, who visit Liverpool in tomorrow's early big match.

Three points would be some achievement by City, given that Liverpool are unbeaten in 10 league games and have not lost at home since Chelsea's 2-1 league victory at Anfield on November 8.

Liverpool have improved since then and are the narrow pick on the handicap. Both teams are expected to score, as they have in the last six meetings between the clubs, and over 2.5 goals looks likely.

There is a full midweek programme in the Premier League to follow this weekend's matches and two teams to watch are Stoke and West Brom, both in good form.

Stoke's best chance in their back-to-back home games is tonight's match against Hull, while West Brom have a shot at big odds against Southampton tonight, but rate better on the handicap for their visit to Aston Villa on Tuesday.

SHORTLIST:

West Ham, Swansea, Augsburg.