'Great night' beckons at White Hart Lane

The top two in Group A come face to face at White Hart Lane on Tuesday in a fixture that marks a return to England for FC Internazionale Milano coach Rafael Benítez. The former Liverpool FC manager has guided the holders to the section summit three games in and is keen to rubber-stamp qualification with two matches to spare. He knows, though, that Harry Redknapp's side will offer a stern test on home soil and deflected the notion that his impressive UEFA Champions League pedigree gives Inter an advantage.

Harry Redknapp, Tottenham manager
We've got a massive game, a great game to look forward to. It's fantastic for Tottenham to be playing the holders in the Champions League at White Hart Lane. Of course [I'd settle for a 1-0 win] – the points are very important. It's still a tight group so we need to get something. With Werder Bremen playing Twente, if one of those teams win then we need to make sure we get some points.

We're playing a team where the goalkeeper [Júlio César] was voted the best in the Champions League last season, Maicon was voted the best defender, [Wesley] Sneijder the best midfielder and [Diego] Milito the best forward, so they've got real quality. They are the champions of Italy and the Champions League holders so it is a very tough game but I fancy us at home with the crowd and great atmosphere. We've got to set a high tempo, play the way we want to play, and I think it will be a great night's football.

Rafael Benítez, Inter coach
We have 21 players with us and all are available for selection – all teams have injuries. Inter are a very good team and that is why we are where we are at the moment. It is not because I am a Champions League specialist. In the past, the team found it difficult to get through the group stage. If we win, we are through and can relax and prepare more for league games.

I would like to see a game under our control but it depends on them. Watching their game against Manchester United, it looked like they were concentrating on this. I think this was their priority – that was my feeling. After good times at Liverpool, I was really pleased to be there and now I'm really pleased to be in Italy. It's a different style of football and league but we will try to do well.

Team news
• Tottenham
Rafael van der Vaart trained on Monday despite limping off with a hamstring injury at the weekend, when Younes Kaboul make his first appearance in over a month after recovering from a hamstring injury. Ledley King (groin), Vedran Ćorluka (groin), Michael Dawson (knee) and Jermain Defoe (ankle) remain out of contention but Tom Huddlestone has recovered from his ankle injury according to Redknapp, who will start with Carlo Cudicini in goal due to Heurelho Gomes's suspension.

• Inter
Milito is available after more than three weeks out with a thigh injury, while Esteban Cambiasso and Julio César are absent having sustained similar injuries in Friday's game against Genoa CFC. Cristian Chivu was rested for that match and is in the squad, but Dejan Stanković (calf) remains on the sidelines.

Weekend results
30/10/10 Manchester United FC 2-0 Tottenham
(Vidić 31, Nani 84)
Redknapp's side stretched their winless run to three matches with a defeat at Old Trafford. Tottenham have not kept a clean sheet in their last 12 matches.

29/10/10 Genoa CFC 0-1 Inter
(Muntari 45+3)
Luca Castellazzi, 35, made his first league appearance for Inter as a second-half replacement for the injured Júlio César. He made his Nerazzurri debut against SV Werder Bremen on Matchday 2. Inter are six matches unbeaten in all competitions, winning four and drawing two.

Did you know?
Benítez's first Premier League game as Liverpool manager was a 1-1 draw at Tottenham in August 2004. He won three times there in eight visits but lost all three games at White Hart Lane against Redknapp.

For more information see the match background.