Slaven Bilic believes Tottenham are “the best team in the league” but says West Ham will adopt a positive approach to their London derby on Friday.
The two sides meet in the Friday Night Football clash at London Stadium, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, with second-placed Spurs looking to cut Chelsea's four-point lead at the top of the Premier League, while West Ham are looking for the points to extinguish any remaining relegation worries.
The Hammers are 15th in the league, but are unbeaten in their last four and are seven points clear of the drop zone but, with three games left, Bilic is looking for the win to ensure safety and is hoping for a repeat of last season's 1-0 home victory against Tottenham.
"That game is always big, it's a derby, and it can't be just an ordinary game. Then, if you add to that that they need points to stay in the race and we need points to climb or to make us safe," Bilic told the club's website.
"We're going to approach it in a very positive way, knowing we are playing, for me, against the best team in the league.
"Hopefully, I'm going to enjoy it, but it's going to be a very nervous game. We will have to be on top of our game.
"But we did it last year, beating them at home when they were also on fire and everything."