Hopefully not the final Final. Tottenham preview

Back on the 19th March, the fixture-setters rearranged the final week of the season to create the ultimate in fourth-place suspense thrillers - and from that moment on everyone has had an eye on this fixture. The first final. The final that allows us to compete in a final Final at Upton Park on the last (or final) day of the season.

The whole lingering battle for fourth comes to a head tomorrow night - there is no need for hype - realistically, City need to win to keep the Champions League hopes alive, and in doing so enter the last game of the season with their fate in their own hands.

After a rejuvenated performance at the weekend, Patrick Vieira was asked if this was the biggest game of his career, to which he diplomatically said 'yes'. Mancini has called it a Champions League final and, in his moment of politeness, Vieira has put it alongside World Cup finals, European Cup finals, Premier League champions deciders and Serie A deciders.

For City, this game is it. The coming together of all the season's uncertainties. Hughes was sacked for not at least challenging for fourth, Mancini is plagued by rumours of his job security if fourth isn't met, some players may not be happy if Champions League isn't in the offing next season, the press (and Harry Redknapp) have insisted City should make fourth with the squad strength available - the fourth-storm has been gathering around us for a while. Since Hughes's sacking this finale is all that we have heard about (detracting a little from what a successful season this has been, regardless of the final position).

So it has boiled down to City and Tottenham - leaving the two most jittery sets of supporters in the country to worry over a nervous encounter at Eastlands. Both sets of fans are used to things slipping up painfully at the last minute but, for City, this is a different sort of season. In recent seasons we haven't had a good record at home to Tottenham, but then it has been a long time since we did the double over Chelsea, for example - or for a more sublime record, the last City player to score at Bolton before this season was Joey Barton. The form book is out. It won't take me to tell you, things are changing here.

Tottenham are waiting on the fitness of Gomes which could result in them playing Ben Alnwick and reigniting the debate about City's emergency keeper scenario. There is also a late fitness test pending for the defensive powerhouse sicknote, Ledley King.

City should welcome back Gareth Barry after his hamstring problem, but whether he is deemed fit enough to replace either of the successful Vieira/De Jong partnership of the weekend is still in doubt.

I claimed in my Villa match report that we play better when Vieira plays - due to his unique ability to pick a quick pass (unique to the City midfield) - and the Guardian uncovered a fact to show City's success when he plays. City have won five and drawn two of the seven matches he has started. He is not everyone's favourite choice due to his aging limbs but he still offers a passing dynamism that is otherwise missing. Mancini apparently asked him to stop trying to run forward and use his passing to unleash our speedsters, and you would imagine he will be employed in a similar role.

With no new fitness concerns, I think City will stay unchanged:

4-4-2/4-2-3-1:

Fulop; Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge; De Jong, Vieira; A. Johnson, Bellamy, Tevez; Adebayor.

The main concern is Bridge's capability to stop Aaron Lennon - and if Mancini doesn't have confidence in Bridge's ability to do so, then he will not be afraid to mix things up a bit. Against Arsenal, Zabaleta did a job on a faster, but less skillful, Walcott after Bridge's injury - and Richards or Onuoha have proved their worth under Mancini and could step up.

Tottenham are a very strong side but where better to settle it than at home, at night, and with 48,000 City fans roaring the team on. The Hamburg-effect shouldn't be underestimated. Come on City!