The day: Sat Mar 24. The venue: Stamford Bridge. The visitors: Tottenham Hotspurs: The stakes. 4th place.
All right. A win for the Blues will not catapult them to 4th but will bring them within striking distance of Spurs threatening that precious berth and a lucrative Champions League eligibility.

Chelsea are riding a very high crest since Andres Villas Boas's departure. Under Roberto Di Matteo, they have won 4 of their last 5 games including overturning a 3-1 deficit to Napoli. Suddenly, Chelsea have a lot to play for including the FA Cup and qualification for next season’s CL.

Chelsea lost their midweek meeting to Man City but only just as Spurs drew with Stoke. Tottenham have yet to win a premier league game in 2012 so they have chosen the wrong time to go through a blip. Chelsea have been galvanized since Di Matteo’s appointment and it appears the dressing room of the old guard have suddenly awoken from a strange deep slumber.

I still think this match as well as the remainder of the season is within Spur’s own hands. They are out of the Europa League with just the FA Cup and a CL position to play for.

Chelsea face Benfica next week in the quarters of the Champions League so Di Matteo may rest some key players for that clash as, one suspects, he did not use Drogba until much later at the Etihad.

Chelsea still have to play Arsenal and Liverpool in the league and interestingly enough could once again face Tottenham in the FA cup if Spurs get past Bolton.

Experience ultimately wins key battles and I think Chelsea will be the victors tomorrow and come the end of the season. Spurs have some outstanding talent but I think they are losing the battle mentally.

Its hyperbole saying Redknapp’s alleged see sawing England appointment is unnerving them. Redknapp rarely starts Defoe who is their top goal scorer and he’s made some eyebrow raising purchases in the forms of Ryan Nelsen and the highly injury prone Louis Saha.

Chelsea should have Romeo, Ramires and perhaps Ivanovic back in the fray at the Bridge. John Terry’s absence probably made a difference against City and he is starting. One suspects Di Matteo will pull off a juggling act what with playing at Benfica on Tuesday.

A win for Chelsea will not see them in 4th but just one point shy of Spurs. The other 6 pointer will be the Manchester Derby on April 30th.

The question is who will hold the EPL trophy and who will finish in the 4th position of the cartel? It looks to be a very blue themed finale.

Written by Tabish Syed.