Marquee matchup: London calling for traditional Chelsea-Spurs barnburner

London's size and constant refashioning mean identities traditionally associated with certain pockets of England's capital have diluted or been reinvented as the population flitted through the boroughs and districts.

Areas like Peckham have become a cultural hub thanks to its thriving West African population, and artists have set up camp in Deptford and New Cross. The old traits of the white, blue-collar population that resided there before are less prevalent, but this hasn't stopped the parochial, spiky exchanges over the Big Smoke's loose borders.

"It's a kingdom in itself, the city of London," former bassist of The Clash, Paul Simonon, told Time Out magazine in 2006. "Although these days it is like lots of villages combined."

So as the wave of the Victoria Line - an unavoidable section of the Underground when commuting between White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge - washes beneath various famous sights and settlements in London, along the way it will pick up the slight yet critical nuances between supporters of Saturday's host, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur.

London derbies always have an air of menace - the players took it upon themselves to hammer home that atmosphere during May's on-pitch fracas - and, as far as those in the stands are concerned, SW6 and N17 are worlds apart.

Injuries and suspensions

Antonio Conte has been able to select from a largely fully fit throng during Chelsea's recent run of form, starting just 12 different players in the last six league outings. Apart from John Terry's three-week absence, this weekend is no different.

Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose, and Ben Davies are out, posing Mauricio Pochettino a tactical teaser at the back. Erik Lamela is set to miss his sixth match with a hip complaint.

Projected lineups

Chelsea starting XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Costa, Hazard

Tottenham starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Trippier; Wanyama, Winks; Eriksen, Dembele, Son; Kane

What to watch

An awful lot of attention is being beamed down on Vincent Janssen, the £17-million summer signing from AZ Alkmaar, who's yet to score from open play for Spurs and looks bereft of confidence. His limp, off-target effort when introduced 65 minutes into his side's Champions League elimination to AS Monaco on Wednesday epitomised how things have gone so far - but perhaps that spotlight should also uncover the lack of potency elsewhere going forward.

Christian Eriksen has been his usual inventive self, but his two goals this campaign - both in a League Cup trouncing of third-tier Gillingham in September - is well-below the return you'd expect from a midfielder of his quality.

It's easy to level criticism at Janssen, but this lack of penetration is a team issue. Even Harry Kane - two-goal hero of last Saturday's late comeback win against West Ham United - was nothing more than anonymous in that match until he converted a simple tap-in and penalty; and Dele Alli, the PFA Young Player of the Year for 2015-16, showed evidence of improvement before his recent layoff, but nowhere near the same degree of that term's dizzy heights.

The greatest headache for Pochettino is at left-back though, with his depleted options perhaps ushering Kevin Wimmer, who has struggled with weight issues, back into the XI to partner Eric Dier at centre-half. That would require Jan Vertonghen to be shunted left. Another alternative would be to use right-back Kieran Tripper as an auxiliary on the other side.

Whatever Spurs' Argentinian gaffer opts for, Conte will undoubtedly look to exploit the makeshift options there. He's unlikely to change his lineup, but will hand even greater freedom to Victor Moses to join attacks, exchanging one-twos with Pedro and accelerating past opponents. Unless the Blues take a commanding early lead on home soil, introducing Willian's similarly speedy work off the bench would also show up the modest pace of Vertonghen, if he's used at left-back.

On the left flank, Eden Hazard will undoubtedly test Kyle Walker's defensive discipline.

This is the first meeting between these two clubs since last May's ill-tempered affair forced referee Mark Clattenburg to brandish 12 yellow cards, and back on Chelsea's patch it'll be Tottenham at most risk of losing its cool.

If Diego Costa's at the centre of trouble, just as he was with Mousa Dembele last time, he's likely to be smarter with his conduct. Per 90 minutes, the Spaniard's fouls committed have dropped from 1.6 to 0.9, but he's been fouled 2.7 times in that span rather than last season's 1.9.

Costa has instead been preoccupied with scoring, currently topping the division's charts with 10 strikes over 12 appearances.

Costa and Conte's Chelsea are canny and in form, and Tottenham's depleted and off-colour. The battle between the Premier League's defences is stacked in the home side's favour.