Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul begins a three-match suspension as a result of his red card for clashing heads with Newcastle's Cheik Tiote.William Gallas makes a timely return from a hamstring strain, but Robbie Keane is a doubt with a similar injury.
Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will play his last game before flying out to the Asian Cup to represent Australia.
Forward Mousa Dembele is nearing a return after a seven-week absence with an ankle injury.
Tottenham
Suspended: Defoe (two matches), Kaboul (three matches)
Doubtful: Keane (hamstring)
Injured: Cudicini (shoulder), Huddlestone (ankle), King (groin), O'Hara (back)
Fulham
Doubtful: Dembele (ankle)
Injured: Briggs & Senderos (both calf), Stoor (groin), Zamora (leg)
MATCH PREVIEW
Having won with 10 men for the second successive match following Younes Kaboul's red card for butting a Newcastle opponent, Tottenham now have a head-to-head in their favour.
There's no reason why we can't push for the title. We attack teams all the time and we're up in the mix. We are all close and get on with each other. That shows on the pitch and that's why we're getting results
Tottenham's Gareth Bale
They have only lost once in 63 years at home to Fulham and ended the west London side's unbeaten start in the league in October.
Tottenham's recent form has fuelled talk of a title challenge, and anything must feel possible at White Hart Lane these days. Conversely, Fulham begin the year in the bottom three and there were question marks over the future of manager Mark Hughes following the home defeat by West Ham on Boxing Day.
Fulham's subsequent victory at Stoke - their first away win since the opening day of last season - was as deserved as it was unexpected, with Chris Baird scoring his first goals since March 2007. Hughes described the performance as immense; for once, Fulham looked good in khaki.
They displayed a resilience in that game that has been a trademark of Tottenham's performances over the festive period. With their mix of perspiration and inspiration, it is little wonder that Spurs' title odds have shrunk to 20-1.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Tottenham's only home defeat by Fulham in 26 league and cup meetings since 1948 was a 3-0 Premier League reverse in August 2003 (W18, D7, L1).
• Fulham are winless in six subsequent league visits to White Hart Lane, scoring only once in that sequence.
• Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has won his last four league matches against Fulham counterpart Mark Hughes. In total, they have six wins each from 13 Premier League meetings.
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Tottenham
• Spurs have won their last three New Year's Day fixtures at White Hart Lane since losing 2-1 to Coventry in 1994.
• They are unbeaten in their last eight league matches (W5, D3). If they avoid defeat on Saturday it will be their longest streak without defeat since a nine-match run ended in March 1999.
• Tottenham are the first top-flight club since Southampton in 1998 to have won two successive league games despite having a player sent off in both.
• Harry Redknapp's side have gained 16 points from losing positions this season - by far the best record in the division.
Fulham
• Fulham won their first Premier League away game in 27 attempts at Stoke on 28 December.
• They are vying for back-to-back league wins for the first time in 11 months.
• The Cottagers have failed to win any of their last 33 away matches in London since beating Tottenham in August 2003.
• Mark Hughes's side have dropped 13 points from winning positions, more than any other club in the division.
• Fulham's Simon Davies, Stephen Kelly and Danny Murphy are all former Tottenham players.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Tottenham
Van der Vaart: 10 goals (8 league); Bale: 10 goals (6 league)
Fulham
Dempsey: 6 goals (5 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Michael Jones
Assistant referees: Will Smallwood & Glenn Turner
Fourth official: Mike Russell
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Tottenham (W2-0 v Newcastle, h): Gomes; Hutton, Dawson, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios (Jenas 46), Modric, Bale, Pavlyuchenko (Bassong 66), Van der Vaart (Crouch 72). Subs not used: Pletikosa, Keane, Kranjcar, Corluka.
Fulham (W2-0 v Stoke, a): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Dempsey, A Johnson. Subs not used: Stockdale, Salcido, Gera, Kamara, Dikgacoi, Greening, Halliche.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport