Tottenham Hotspur continue their preparations for the new Premier League campaign on Friday as they take on Reading in North London.
Meanwhile, the Championship outfit head into the contest having began their pre-season campaign with success over Gillingham.
Match preview
© Reuters
At a time when many of the club's rivals are being linked with new signings, Jose Mourinho is focused on ensuring that his current crop of players are well drilled ahead of the new season.
With Joe Hart and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg already through the door, further additions could be limited, but the Portuguese may be content with paying full attention to life on the training pitch.
Mourinho would have been delighted with the application of his players in their first pre-season friendly at the weekend as they easily got the better of Ipswich Town.
While Son Heung-min dominated the headlines due to his double against the Tractor Boys, Mourinho would have been far more satisfied with the efforts of his team as a whole as they bid to start the campaign on the front foot.
Although fixtures with Birmingham City and Watford are still to come, Mourinho will want further improvements to be made against opposition who are at a similar stage with regards to schedules.
© Reuters
Reading also got their pre-season underway with a victory last week as they overcame League One team Gillingham by a 2-1 scoreline.
Like with their hosts, more attention is being paid to fitness levels than results, but Mark Bowen will acknowledge that this is an important period for his current group of players.
Despite several players having either found new clubs or been released on a free transfer, only Josh Laurent has arrived through the entrance door from Shrewsbury Town.
While a selection of returning loan players are battling to impress, Bowen will also take the opportunity to give academy players a chance to make an impact before a decision is made on their short-term future at the club.
Tottenham Hotspur form (pre-season friendlies) form: W
Reading form (pre-season friendlies): W
Head To Head
These two clubs have met in competitive matches on 61 occasions, with Spurs claiming 29 wins in comparison to 16 victories for Reading.
While eight of those matches came between 2006 and 2013, the first 43 encounters were all staged before 1930.
Spurs have won six of the last seven encounters, a run which includes four triumphs on the bounce.
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Reading
While the teams are on a level-playing field when it comes to pre-season minutes, we cannot ignore the differences in quality. With that in mind, we feel that Mourinho's men will run out comfortable victors on Friday.
