Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is looking to his stingy defence to snuff out the goalscoring threat of Tottenham's leading marksman Jermain Defoe at White Hart Lane tonight.
O'Neill is full of praise for his back line, which has been the key to their success so far this season.
Villa have the best defensive record in the Barclays Premier League - conceding just 18 goals in 23 games - and O'Neill said: "Statistically it is very good that we have such a good defensive record at the present time.
"I'm aware that could be eroded in two or three games and the defence will be put to a severe test in the next two games against Tottenham and Manchester United, never mind the FA Cup match.
"I've been very pleased and I think James Collins, Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock coming into the football club in August were incredibly important for us because Curtis Davies was going to be out injured for four or five months.
"We knew that was going to take that time and we only had young Ciaran Clarke and Carlos Cuellar playing against Fulham in one of the earlier games.
"Obviously, we had to do something about it and those three players coming into the football club have given everybody a lift.
"I don't think they realise the importance of their contributions."
While hoping Villa can keep Defoe quiet, O'Neill acknowledges the encounter will inevitably lead to people comparing the ability of Defoe and Agbonlahor as Fabio Capello starts to finalise his plans for England's World Cup squad.
O'Neill added: "Defoe is an exceptional goalscorer who always looks dangerous, while Agbonlahor has added other parts to his game.
"The two goals Gabby scored against Fulham will have heightened his confidence again which I don't think has ever been too low.
"It's great to watch him and he is going along very nicely in the goalscoring charts.
"I think the comparisons and contrasts will inevitably be made, as much to do with the fact that Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch are also involved in this match.
"All are obviously desperate to be on the England plane to South Africa.
"The game is very important and to come out of this run of matches after the League Cup final is over it would be nice to still be in that chasing pack. That is our aim.
"Pressure is there all the time and it is relentless and it never goes away. On the plus side this is what you set out to be involved in.
"I think at this stage of the season it is great that we have things to look forward to.
Of course, all that could evaporate in a week or 10 days.
"It is nice for some of the players who were saying themselves at other clubs they have been with at this stage of the season they were normally involved at the other end of the table and it is great just to be at Aston Villa.
"This is refreshing to hear."
O'Neill is also looking forward to locking horns again with Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.
He said: "I get on pretty well with Harry.
He has been a top manager for quite some time. He went on to take the FA Cup a couple of years ago and that is very important to show for a long career in management.
"Harry has been very, very good. He has a good eye for a player and I've the utmost time for him. I
think he has been a really fine manager for a long time."
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