THE pressure is off again tonight as another patched up Wanderers team bid to reach the semi-finals of the Worthington Cup.

Squad members who are fit and willing enough to take on Spurs at White Hart Lane will be handed the shirts.

For the first time this season injuries are starting to pile up with Gudni Bergsson (hamstring), Mike Whitlow (ankle), Kevin Nolan (knee) and Simon Charlton (back) all expected to be ruled out of tonight's tie.

One or two others have asked to be rested tonight to prepare mentally for Saturday's more important Premiership visit of Charlton Athletic which leaves the way clear for plenty of the fringe players to show what they can do against Premiership opposition.

Wanderers' justified obsession with the Premiership has relegated the two cup competitions to secondary status. Even the incentive of a European place for the winners is not enough to cause too much excitement. Premiership points are the priority - Sam From back page

Indeed, Allardyce admitted: "Our agenda isn't Europe - we wouldn't be equipped for it even if we go into it."

Allardyce says it is different for Spurs. "I think Glenn Hoddle will play his full strenth side and try to get into Europe. This competition possible offers his best chance of getting into Europe.

"That's not our agenda. Ours is survival in the Premiership.

"Tonight's game is a big release from the pressures. It is not a big, important Premiership game and the players can go out and express themselves."

"I will make some changes but fewer than for the other games because we are trying to win the game and get through to the semi-finals but I have to look at the bigger picture.

"We've got seven Premiership games in December and this game makes it eight so it is very important we give players rest when we can.

"In this competition the team has been changed on a regular basis up to now and the players we have used have got us this far and I have no problems with playing them in this game.

"The performance against Southampton in the last round was extremely good. The players have the chance to force their way into the team by playing well in the cup like Anthony Barness, who came into the side on the back of his good cup performance."