And we're away. Can Hull pull it off?

John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"A year ago to the day, with Premier League football secured for another season, Hull were excitedly preparing for their first-ever appearance in an FA Cup final against Arsenal.

"Fast forward to kick-off on Saturday and the Tigers are in grave danger of Premier League extinction. Their top-flight future is no longer in their own hands and a return to Championship football is a very real and worrying proposition."

The mascots are in the tunnel waiting to come out. Eleven in Spurs kits, one in a Hull kit. The young Tigers fan, next to Michael Dawson, looks a nervous wreck, constantly tapping his chest in anticipation. Poor lad.

So what of Tottenham? They want a Europa League spot, don't they? Surely?

Well, their form suggests they're not that interested, having won one of their last six.

Mauricio Pochettino has made it clear that he will be taking no hangers-on next season, saying this week: "Nobody is sure that they are staying at the club."

As it stands, Spurs are two points behind Southampton - who thumped Aston Villa earlier - and a guaranteed Europa League place. Although if Arsenal win the FA Cup, seventh would be good enough for Pochettino's men.

Robbie Savage
BBC Sport analyst

"Things look pretty grim for Hull City right now and one of the few positives for them is that they cannot go down this weekend."

As far as positives go, it's not the greatest.

But that's the assessment of former Leicester City midfielder Robbie Savage, writing in his BBC Sport column this week. Read it here.

Image source, Getty Images

You may notice a name missing from the Tottenham squad. Brad Friedel, retiring at the age of 43, will not be given a send off at White Hart Lane.

No room for sentiment from Mr Pochettino.

There is one forced change for Tottenham, with suspended defender Vlad Chiriches making way for Danny Rose.

Hull, meanwhile, are without midfielder Jake Livermore, after he was suspended following a positive test for cocaine - so David Meyler comes in. And Nikica Jelavic makes his first start up front since March.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose, Bentaleb, Mason, Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela, Kane

Subs: Vorm, Yedlin, Dembele, Paulinho, Stambouli, Townsend, Soldado

Hull XI: Harper, Chester, Dawson, McShane, Elmohamady, Meyler, Huddlestone, Quinn, Brady, Jelavic, N'Doye

Subs: McGregor, Rosenior, Bruce, Hernandez, Sagbo, Aluko, Robertson

Here are the all important numbers. Hull are two points from safety, but cannot be mathematically relegated today, because both Sunderland AND Leicester cannot reach 38 points this afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

Without wanting to be over dramatic, if you're a Hull City supporter, today is the first day of the rest of your life.

This is the long and short of it. Hull cannot go down today, but it could be as good as over for Steve Bruce's side if they fail to win at Tottenham.

With Sunderland hosting Leicester City - two and three points above the Tigers respectively - one or both of those two sides are guaranteed to pick up at least a point.

So, a win is a must. Otherwise Hull will be needing a last-day win over Manchester United - and a minor miracle - to survive.