Marquee matchup: Can Spurs squeeze City into submission again?

Expectations have been revised at these two traditionally downtrodden clubs that will meet Saturday.

After years of calamitous boardroom decisions consigned it to third-tier football, Manchester City is edging out from under the shadow of hated neighbour United thanks to the riches of Sheikh Mansour, and now the management of Pep Guardiola, who can attract bigger names to the Etihad Campus.

Visitor Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, has enjoyed a more gradual ascent thanks to the development of youngsters through the academy (or acquired on the cheap, like Dele Alli) to finally forge a team that could finish above archrival Arsenal for the first time in 22 years.

And the respective climbs of these sides aren't over. City may use the tie to welcome Gabriel Jesus to the locals - the teenager joins a young throng acquired over the past few months - while Spurs will again lean on the attacking talents of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Christian Eriksen, who have an average age of 22.

Which side deserves to firmly post itself among the country's elite: City or Spurs?

Injuries and suspensions

Fernandinho is still serving a suspension for City, but captain Vincent Kompany is striving to make his 35th comeback from injury since moving from Hamburg in 2008. Fernando is a doubt.

Tottenham has been hit by the news that Jan Vertonghen will be sidelined for around six weeks. Erik Lamela remains unavailable.

Projected lineups

Manchester City starting XI: Bravo; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov; Fernando, Toure; Sterling, Silva, De Bruyne; Aguero

Tottenham starting XI: Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld, Wimmer; Walker, Wanyama, Dembele, Rose; Eriksen, Alli; Kane

What to watch

In the last meeting between these two outfits, Mauricio Pochettino staged a tactical master class.

City was on a high after six consecutive victories to begin the Premier League season; the Guardiola era was off to a rip-roaring start. Throughout the run, Fernandinho was the fulcrum of City's side, dictating the tempo while expertly protecting the back four and slotting into the defence when John Stones went on a stroll.

So, in October, Spurs hounded the Brazilian.

Fernandinho's pass percentage the previous weekend at Swansea City was 95 percent. At White Hart Lane, it fell to 78 percent as he was given scant time in possession; the rest of his teammates were under the cosh too, forced to punt hopeful long balls rather than hone their high-tempo, short-passing game.

Fernandinho won't be around this time, and that could set up an even easier test. Everton's Tom Davies ran rings around the flat-footed Yaya Toure in City's 4-0 defeat last weekend, perhaps encouraging Guardiola to hand a first Premier League start to the similarly indefatigable teenage midfielder Aleix Garcia alongside the Ivorian. Someone needs to compensate for Toure's attitude, which at times has bordered on apathy.

Failing that, Fabian Delph may receive an opportunity - he's certainly a better proposition in the middle of the park than the ageing Pablo Zabaleta - but it's more likely a potentially fit-again Fernando will get the nod.

Considering the form the Spurs attack is enjoying - Alli superbly shadowing Kane, Eriksen weaving tapestries with his right peg - any of Guardiola's solutions deep in the midfield could be futile, particularly considering the negligence that goes on behind them.

Related - Otamendi: A statistician's dream, but a logistical nightmare

Spurs aren't exactly bereft of issues, however, with the rotund Kevin Wimmer potentially being drafted in due to Vertonghen's ankle complaint. Considering Ben Davies' familiarity in that role with Wales, deploying him would be a much better idea.

Wimmer has shown a tendency to be pulled out of position, and could be dragged to and fro if Raheem Sterling - the likely right winger for the bout - kicks up chalk on the touchline.

With the ex-Liverpool man staying wide, it'll drag Wimmer aside from the tight, narrow trio in defence, leaving City's standout player of the campaign, David Silva, to conjure spells from a pocket between the midfield and defence. The Spaniard's penchant of chipping balls over, or simply cutting a pass to perfectly meet a teammate's surge, could pick holes behind the stranded two.

Even in the event of a reshuffle, this route would still provide a likely source of goals. New boy Jesus, the £27-million arrival from Palmeiras, is devastating when angling a run from the left to then charge through the centre.

The 19-year-old's introduction is expected to be restrained in the next few months after a busy spell on Brazil's domestic scene, but there's no doubting his natural talent through six caps, five goals, and four assists for his country's national team since September.

Guardiola must be experiencing the temptation to deploy him immediately. Before the first whistle at Tottenham earlier in the season, City was averaging three goals per game. Now, it's down to half that rate.

The improvement of Spurs - they have nine more points and nine more goals than at this stage last season - is undeniable, however, and they have to be favourites for this away bout.