Everton are without top scorer Tim Cahill, who is part of the Australia squad at the Asian Cup.
Johnny Heitinga is again expected to be missing with a knee injury that ruled him out since the end of November.
Tottenham have concerns over the fitness of defenders Alan Hutton and William Gallas after they picked up injuries against Fulham.
Striker Jermain Defoe and defender Younes Kaboul are still unavailable due to suspension.
Everton have traditionally been labelled slow starters to a season, but this campaign is proving to be more pedestrian than most.
With just one victory in their last 10 matches, the Toffees are stuck in 13th place and are just three points clear of the relegation zone. Midfielder Tim Cahill, one of the few players to emerge with credit this season, is now absent at the Asian Cup with Australia, denying manager David Moyes his top scorer and his side's only real goal threat so far. In fact, they have scored as many goals through their own net as they have managed to put past the opposition in their last three games.
In contrast, Harry Redknapp's Tottenham side are flying. Unbeaten in their last 11 matches, they have even managed to keep back-to-back clean sheets, thanks in part to the return of Michael Dawson to shore up their previously porous defence.
This match pits arguably the two form left-sided players in the league against each other. Leighton Baines has been outstanding for Everton this season and has buried the ghost of his World Cup snub, while the performances of Tottenham's Gareth Bale has seen his status upgraded to world class.
Two goals over the Christmas period lifted his tally for the season to 11. Few defenders have been able to shackle the Welsh winger, but the wily skills of Phil Neville neutralised his threat at White Hart Lane in October with a defensive display that turned him into a surprise hit on social networking side Twitter as fans lauded his performance.
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