Fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur provide the latest test of Watford’s top-flight credentials when they visit Vicarage Road this afternoon.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side sit six points off the summit and have been, sparingly, mooted as potential title contenders after losing just two of their first 18 games.

However, eight draws have undermined the north Londoners’ claims for top spot in the first half of the season.

Pochettino, who made his name in England during a successful stint with Southampton, is in his second season at White Hart Lane after delivering a fifth-place finish last season.

The Argentine, who famously conceded the penalty from which David Beckham netted the winner against Los Albiceleste for England at the 2002 World Cup, has put an emphasis on young, homegrown players.

Spurs hadn’t been beaten since the opening day of the season – 1-0 at Manchester United – when they fell to a late, shock defeat at home to Newcastle United earlier this month.

The reaction, though, has been ideal with back-to-back wins over Southampton and Norwich City lifting Spurs into the Champions League places. Much like the Hornets, they’d happily see the season end now.

Here we profile three Tottenham players who could make the difference against the Hornets.

Watford Observer:

Harry Kane: After a sluggish start to the season in which he had scored once in nine outings for Spurs the striker is already up to 15 for club and country this term.

The 2014/15 season at White Hart Lane belonged to Harry Kane. The Chingford-born striker netted 31 times in all competitions to mark a staggering breakthrough campaign.

Kane had previously spent time out on loan at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City learning his craft.

Afforded a run in the first team at the end of the 2013/14 season under Tim Sherwood the 22-year-old netted three times in the final six games of the season before the former Watford midfielder was sacked.

He has since gone on to become a key man for Spurs and England.

Watford Observer:

Christian Eriksen: The Danish playmaker is one of the few players left after the post Gareth Bale splurge of 2013.

Signed from Netherlands giants Ajax the 23-year-old has been a revelation at White Hart Lane, scoring 19 times in 74 league starts for the north London outfit.

Eriksen began his career in Denmark with Middlefart G&BK before moving to OB and eventually onto Ajax in 2008.

He progressed through the Dutch giants’ Academy setup and made more than 100 first-team outings before finally leaving the nest for a fee of £11 million.

Eriksen has barely looked back since and has become the creator-in-chief at White Hart Lane as well as the set-piece taker of choice.

Watford Observer:

Dele Alli: The England international only joined Spurs from MK Dons in January but has been fast-tracked into the first team under Pochettino.

Sent back to the Dons on loan for the rest of the season following his £5 million switch, the 19-year-old helped his first club win promotion back to the Championship before heading to White Hart Lane in the summer.

Alli has been a regular for Pochettino’s side already making 13 Premier League starts and scoring four times.

The all-action midfielder’s impressive form has also caught the eyes of England boss Roy Hodgson and Alli has already earned four England caps this term – making his debut five months after starring in League One for the Dons.