Ten minutes to kick-off. Blue skies above the Britannia with white clouds dotted around. Looks like Spurs are playing in their all yellow change strip.

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Is the Europa League worth the bother for Tottenham?

Many label the competition as a hindrance to their Premier League aspirations, but is there any substance to these claims?

BBC Sport studied 10 seasons since the Europa League introduced group stages to find exactly what impact a campaign has on league performance.

Have a look here.

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Don't expect Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to be jumping for joy should Tottenham secure a Europa League spot for a fifth straight season. The Argentine says Europe's second-tier club competition is a hindrance to a Premier League club's domestic aspirations.

"The Europa League is not an easy competition, it's a very tough competition because it affects your domestic league," Pochettino tells the Guardian., external

"It's true that the experience of last season with Liverpool and now with Manchester United - I think that is a clear example that you will have the opportunity to stay closer to the top four, if you only have to focus on the Premier League and the cups."

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So what does today's match mean?

Tottenham can go level on points with fifth-placed Liverpool with a win as the Reds are not in action until Sunday when they meet champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The reward for finishing fifth is a place in the Europa League group stage but the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League table will face a 30 July third qualifying round tie in the same qualification.

Stoke can still finish eighth in the table and require one more win to equal their club record Premier League points hauls which stands at 50.

Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator at the Britannia Stadium

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"With just three games to go Tottenham Hotspur hold a slender one-point advantage over Southampton in their tussle to clinch the last definite Europa League qualification place for next season. I very much doubt it's a climax that has the hearts of Spurs supporters fluttering with excitement.

"In fact, I'm pretty sure that there are more than a few who wouldn't mind giving Europe's junior competition a swerve for once.

"After all, they've been involved in it for each of the last four seasons, seven of the last nine if you include its previous guise of the Uefa Cup. So it's hardly a novelty and it hasn't brought much success, just plenty of air miles."

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Stoke boss Mark Hughes makes two changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Swansea on 2 May, with defenders Geoff Cameron and Marc Muniesa coming in for Phil Bardsley and Marc Wilson, who is suspended. Former Tottenham striker Peter Crouch is on the substitutes bench.

Spurs make one change to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Manchester City on 3 May, full-back Danny Rose replaced by Vlad Chiricheș. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says Rose has a slight groin problem although he is named on the bench. Harry Kane, who has 20 Premier League goals, also starts for Spurs.

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The Saturday before the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season. Stoke and Tottenham players can be forgiven if thoughts are turning towards the beaches of Dubai, a ride along the Pacific Highway in an open top sports car or pool parties in the most lavish hotels Las Vegas has to offer.

But there is still work to be done, nine points to be won which could make the difference between a good season and a distinctly average campaign.

Tottenham's hopes of securing a Champions League spot have all but vanished yet a top-five finish - and a ticket to the Europa League group stage - is still very much alive. For Stoke, a club record Premier League points haul is within reach.

Route 66 can wait.

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